Unknown seed bug - BugGuide.Net

Moved

Moved from Beetles.

… Boris Büche, 30 March, 2007 - 6:02am

prob lampyrid

… Taro Eldredge, 15 February, 2007 - 12:06pm

beetle larva

Did you look at the underside? I've read that all firefly larvae are luminescent, so I assume that a light-producing organ would be visible in the same place as in adult fireflies - under the tip of the tail. Otherwise, I'm guessing it would be a net-winged beetle larva. Does anyone know whether the larvae of these families can be distinguished this way?

… Robin McLeod, 12 January, 2005 - 5:52pm

the test

I asked the person who sent me the picture to put it in a dark room and see if she could see the glow...and then report back to me.

… Walter Reeves, 12 January, 2005 - 6:29pm

beetle larva

Looking at the underside should be sufficient; the light-producing organ in fireflies is white, contrasting sharply with the rest of the dark abdomen, and easily seen in daylight or artificial light.

… Robin McLeod, 14 January, 2005 - 9:09pm

larva

The underside was lighter but not stark white. I don't have it, just took pictures. It was found in the office of the seed store, not in the seed. I'll get back with the person who found it to see if she still has it, last I heard it was on the way to Chattahoochee Nature Center. I haven't been able to google any good pictures for Lycidae larvae. Anyone have any links? I was also told possible lace wing larva but all the pics I see of them have noticeable mandibles that this doesn't have. It looks just like the pics I've seen now of fireflies. The "head" was pulled back under the "body" until it started moving, then it streched out and it used its rear end to lever itself forward.

… MaryAnn, 16 January, 2005 - 9:25am

Beetle larva

This is the larva of either a net-winged beetle (family Lycidae), or a firefly (family Lampyridae). They are both very similar. Don't know what it would be doing in the birdseed, unless the bag were already open and laying outside. They are predatory insects.

… Eric R. Eaton, 12 January, 2005 - 11:31am