Dynastes Posted September 29, 2010 Report Share Posted September 29, 2010 This is a female glowworm beetle. The male looks more like a beetle and has huge comb antennae. The glowworms glow anytime you turn the lights off (and when the lights are on but you can't see it). The glow lines look like they'd be between the segments but there is a line of glowing tissue near the back of each segment notably forward from the edge of the segment. The glow spots are on fatty tissue on the sides. This is the largest USA species, Zarhipis integripennis. It's under three inches but can stretch its body out to over six inches. It eats only giant millipedes and does so head first and stretches it's body out inside the millipede as it consumes everything but the exoskeleton. Females live many years and only need to be fed every two or three months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted September 30, 2010 Report Share Posted September 30, 2010 This is a female glowworm beetle. The male looks more like a beetle and has huge comb antennae. The glowworms glow anytime you turn the lights off (and when the lights are on but you can't see it). The glow lines look like they'd be between the segments but there is a line of glowing tissue near the back of each segment notably forward from the edge of the segment. The glow spots are on fatty tissue on the sides. This is the largest USA species, Zarhipis integripennis. It's under three inches but can stretch its body out to over six inches. It eats only giant millipedes and does so head first and stretches it's body out inside the millipede as it consumes everything but the exoskeleton. Females live many years and only need to be fed every two or three months. That is one sick beetle! If only I had more millipedes around... lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 where on earth did you get that beastiy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynastes Posted October 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 It's from Arizona but I'm sure you could find them in Texas. They especially love Orthoporus millipedes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 would they eat isopods? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynastes Posted October 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 I believe they are specific to millipedes. The internal way they eat the millipdes is amazingly specific. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 that is just amazing!! got any pics of her eating? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Clausen Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 Definitely one of my alltime favorite forum posts, Orin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynastes Posted October 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 that is just amazing!! got any pics of her eating? It molted a few days later and it will probably be a little while before it's ready to eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ignaz Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 I am currently keeping a single female I believe it be Phengodes sp. This one looks exactly the same as mine. http://bugguide.net/node/view/305791/bgimage Mine was collected in Tenn. Since I received her she has eaten one 4" Narceus americanus. That was around 3 months ago so I guess she will need to be fed again soon. Given the locality of her collection I was wondering if they hibernate? I have been keeping her in an enclsure with a few small salamander I keep on the cool side and as the temperature has dropped she has been less active and for the last three weeks she has been curled up semi-burrowed under a piece of cottonwood bark. I removed her today and she walked around on my hand and looked nice and plump. I guess I am asking for any tips or suggestions anyone might have for keeping this little girl as happy as I can. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucanus Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Nice beetle you have!!! I used to keep some fire flies but they are not as awesome as this species. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cre0broter Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 is that picture of an adult? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ignaz Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Yes, the females remain in a larvae like state their entire life but the males look nothing like them. The males look more like a moth-fly than a beetle. There seems to very little information on this unusual insect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cre0broter Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 if the females remain larvae, how do they reproduce? also, how are they considered beetles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynastes Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 I guess I am asking for any tips or suggestions anyone might have for keeping this little girl as happy as I can. Thanks The females tend to live up to a few years and they don't need to eat very often. I would suggest at least offering food every few months. If it's cold (lower than 65F) it probably won't feed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cre0broter Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 the females still pupate an all right? do the adult females molt? also, have you bred them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ignaz Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 I am unable to breed them as I only have one female. They do molt but mine has not. The one Orin has did. We are all awaiting new pics. I will post some actual ones of mine once I figure this site out. I still can't figure out my profile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arachknight Posted June 13, 2011 Report Share Posted June 13, 2011 This is a female glowworm beetle. The male looks more like a beetle and has huge comb antennae. The glowworms glow anytime you turn the lights off (and when the lights are on but you can't see it). The glow lines look like they'd be between the segments but there is a line of glowing tissue near the back of each segment notably forward from the edge of the segment. The glow spots are on fatty tissue on the sides. This is the largest USA species, Zarhipis integripennis. It's under three inches but can stretch its body out to over six inches. It eats only giant millipedes and does so head first and stretches it's body out inside the millipede as it consumes everything but the exoskeleton. Females live many years and only need to be fed every two or three months. That thing is amazing! so it eats the head then consumes everything but the exoskeleton? Sounds like aliens to me. How does it keep the millipede body from coming apart? How long does it take for the glowworm beetle to consume an adult millepede? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCrackerpants Posted June 15, 2011 Report Share Posted June 15, 2011 http://bugguide.net/node/view/9364/bgpage http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/1111_1111/2222/0894.jpeg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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