#glow worm

This is a glow-worm larva. At the time, I'd never seen a glow-worm larva before, so it was a cool find. The photo isn't the best, but I still love it.

Despite their name, glow-worms are actually beetles, with the females closely resembling the larvae while the males look more like typical beetles. You can tell the females apart from larvae because they do not have the yellow-orange spots the larvae do.

My favourite thing about glow-worms is that they are bioluminescent, which means that they can produce light. They are one of the few species in the UK that can do this. While the greenish glow is more noticable from females, the males, larvae, and even their eggs produce varying levels of light. The light also serves different purposes based on their point in the life cycle - for larvae, it's a warning to predators, while for adults, it's for courtship.

A new pair of FAEMON ARE HERE! This time around we have a couple based on Fireflies! More precisely, based on Lamprohiza splendidula, found in Germany, where it's known as "Kleiner Leuchtkäfer" (translates to "Little Glowbug").

Little Glowbugs have a rather short lifespan compared to other Fireflies, especially the males only live for about a week and are unable to eat. They put the vast majority of their energy into their light to communicate and attract females. This, together with their appearance inspired the idea of a ghost/undead firefly. What's unique about their appearance is their see-through head-shield, which from underneath looks a bit like the collar of a coat:

Females (bottom right) can glow too, actually far more prominent than the males! Their white larvae body reminded me of a frill dress, and the idea of a Mask ball-themed duo was born!

These designs were so much fun to work on, I hope you enjoy them as well!! :D I MIGHT design a first stage baby for them one day, but for now I'm happy to share these two as the enchanted couple they are!

I already like this person mangled wings is such a fun name

I mean if the world has basically reset give the petty criminals a chance to redeem themselves

Okay I see why they might have problems with people who have killed but still

YESSSS RACHEL MENTHON THIS ARTICLE HETTER BE SO FULL OF POSITIVITY REGARDING HER

HOW DARE YOU

The fallen sounds so familiar but I can’t place them

is there really the resources to worry about bringing these people who are now not really doing any harm to justice when people are building the world back up

Sure thing dude you’re definitely not buying into the anti cape sentiment

Dragon can fix some version or birdcage up again if she wanted because she’s so cool and awesome and defiant could help her he’s her boyfriend

who is mlek and why don’t we all type like they do

MLEK IS SO SMART AND WISE

Mlek accurately assessed the situation and gave a solid judgement this is my favourite character who are you mystery mlek

I like mangled wings

I HATE TEAM LANCER WHAT DO YOU MEAN BAN MLEK

Mlek is who I aspire to be like

Mangled wings is fond of metaphors they must have done eng lit

I was going to complain about new ohmstar but they recognise how cool mlek is I did not know there was a cult surrounding them how can I join

Oooh Valkyrie is glastig right? Let’s goo

I like mangled wings they seem interesting

I can’t tell who they are though it can’t be the undersiders surely none would choose that name

Mangled wings was in costume already because mangled wings is always ready always alert my hero

I respect mangled wings upfront attitude about being a villian

That’s the second time I heard catch more flies with honey saying today

Do not tell them to spend more time online what that’s awful advice

This reminds me of Lisa and Taylor’s first conversation where Taylor was at a library

I miss Taylor and Lisa

Mangled wings pulling out the fashionably late card I knew they were my favourite

Oh cap is here too

Alexandria!?!! Back from the dead again???

Clark Kent??? From superman???

Ohh is heart shaped pupil this kenzi I’ve heard about

I love I don’t know this word in response to fyi

And then you didn't tell us that secret! May I ask you to share the difference between predatory lightning bugs and normal ones?

Thank you very much :)

By popular demand and because this was the most polite ask: how to tell the predatory lightning bugs from the non-predatory lightning bugs.

First, there are over 2000 species in Lampyridea. I am not qualified to distinguish between all that. I grew up in Northern Ohio (71 species) and every year summer wasn’t official until the lightning bugs came out in the evenings (usually the first or second week of June).

This is our first clue. The first lightning bugs out each evening are a species of non-predatory chaps. Their glow goes in a special pattern. Flash, pause, “J” shaped flight about 2 -3’ off the ground. Repeat. Their glow is more yellow and lingers. These are the males of Photinus pyralis or the common eastern firefly. They look like this:

(Photo from iNaturalist: a lightning bug beetle, mostly black with gold lines around the wing casing. Head shield is yellow with a red “eye” with black iris in the center. Rounded front and back, long down the center.)

Their females hide in tall grasses waiting for the right suitor. If you’re lucky and clever you can see her dimmer flash in the grass beaconing the males closer.

As the dark of night progresses you’ll start to see a quicker, brighter, greener flash. Blip, blip, blip, blip, long pause. They are FAST! They’ll also mimic the flashes of Photinus females. These are usually higher up off the ground. Even in the trees! These lightning bugs aren’t looking for love.

Photuris (not gonna get to specific epitaph on this one without a sample and a key) are looking for dinner!

(Photo from blog.greatparks.org another lightning bug beetle. This one is slightly larger than the non-predatory bug. It has “shoulders” and extra gold lines running through the back. Its legs are longer and its shield is more “sharp”. The shield marking is less like an eye and more like a yellow D where the inside is a red triangle with a black line running through.)

Another way to tell is to go out at night and catch a bunch of lightning bugs (if you can; I hear they’re getting scarce). Offer them a slice of apple. If you wake up in the morning to only a few and the rest are dead, good chance you found some predators. (This is how I found out about them! Wooops!!)

Lightning bugs are freaking magical. I’m so sad to hear that they are yet another wonder that we are losing at an alarming rate. If this bugs you as much as it bugs me there are a few things you can do to help them:

1) do not spray for mosquitoes! That spray is not-species specific. It’s bad for lightning bugs. It’s bad for monarch butterflies. It’s bad for birds. It’s bad for bats. It’s bad.

2) kill your lawn. But Misha! You said they breed in the grasses! True! However native plants are going to provide so much more habitat for these guys than a gross monoculture of Kentucky bluegrass ever will. The Midwest has some of the best native plant nurseries in the country! Use that resource!

3) Advocate for them and donate to conservation if you’re able. Bugs don’t have voices and they fight an uphill battle just for being a bug.