myrmecos.net

Distremocephalus sp. - male glow worm
Phengodidae
Arizona, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2008

The beetle family Phengodidae is odd any way you look at it. The adult female (not pictured) is larviform, which means she never loses her grub-like appearance as she grows into sexual maturity. She has no wings and no long antennae. But she does bioluminesce, and that gives the family their common name: Glow-worms.  In stark contrast to their grubby counterparts, male phengodids (as shown here) are delicate creatures, adapted for dispersal and mating. 
  

USA AZ Pima Co.: Tucson
32º14.24'N 110º56.44'W 750m.
28.iv.2008
Urban Tucson.


This image is copyrighted by the photographer and cannot be used without permission. To obtain permission to use this image, please email Alex Wild. (alwild (at) myrmecos.net).  Most of the photographs on myrmecos.net are reduced from their original size and compressed for more efficient web transmission.  In some cases, higher quality versions are available.

This image was captured with a Canon EOS 20D, using a Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens.