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Photo#756024
Firefly Larva?

Firefly Larva?
Basking Ridge, Somerset County, New Jersey, USA
March 29, 2013
Found under a rotting log. The log seemed fairly old and when I flipped it over it was in wet, grey, clay. This thing was curled up, and looked bright neon yellow in the dark grey clay.

Moved
Moved from Net-winged Beetles.

Lycid larva: likely Benibotarus thoracicus (Randall)
This is a lycid - most likely Benibotarus thoracicus (Randall) - although possibly Dictyoptera or another closely related taxon. The description of a rather old, damp log fits nicely with where I have commonly found larvae of B. thoracicus - they are often found in small, gregarious groups. I have reared this species on several occasions from very old, red-rotten oak & related hardwood logs.

 
excellent -- thanks much, Dan.

Moved tentatively

Looks like Lycid larva
Judging by the head capsule form and stiletto-like mandibles, I'd say it's Lycidae larvae. Looks similar to this photo of lycid larva from Kunashir iso.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25258027@N02/2382987981/

not one of mine....fireflies
not one of mine....fireflies and their relatives don't have a boss on the posterior dorsally...this is called a urogomphus and that feature sends you over to, most likely, the tenebrionid people. Let them have a look at it....this larva superficially resembles the glowworms (phengodids) in color and segment shape, but it's not in that group.

 
I was looking at glowworms this morning...
But a day or two ago when I tried feeding my firefly larva a few snails, this guy was the first one to stick his head in a shell... I assumed he was one because he also moves like one and his head looks similar.

 
thanks again, Joe

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