Some have suggested that the glowing spots on the back of the cockroach could be an instance of Batesian mimicry. This bacteria could preferentially colonize specific areas of the cockroach like those that cannot easily be reached by the cockroach when cleaning itself. The back of this cockroach’s carapace is decorated with three spots-one large, two small- that glow when exposed to light (autofluorescence). So what made people think that these cockroaches could glow in the first place? It may be due to a rare and real phenomenon, not one, however, based on the cockroach’s own ability to produce biological light, but on the presence of pathological bacteria (known for almost 100 years to attack insects, especially caterpillars: Pfeiffer & Stammer 1930). This particular beetle was found on a frostweed weed plant located in New Braunfels, TX (Fall 2015). The yellow on the edges of its wing cover also mimic fireflies yellow coloration on their thorax. The red blotch across the beetle’s rear end is very similar to such patches on the front ends of fireflies. These beetles are occasionally found on flowers and are known to be pollinators. Fireflies contain steroid like compounds that are poisonous to many animals and other insects. This insect is an amazing example of mimicry, where another beetle mimics the colors of a firefly as a defense not to get eaten. The scientific name for this beetle is Acmaeodera flavomarginata, often listed in books as the Yellow-bordered Flower Buprestid, the term buprestid designating the beetle family to which it belongs, Buprestidae. It looks like a firefly in the daytime but is it? This beetle bears a striking similarity to a firefly but it’s not one. The red light comes on when the animal is jostled or threatened-possibly to warn off predators.Ĭopyright © Mike Quinn Buprestidae Yellow-bordered Flower Buprestid The green lights are lined up along the insect’s body, while the red lights are on its head. Railroad worms Railroad wormsįound in both North and South America, these bugs and their larvae emit both green and red light-they’re the only bioluminescent insects that emit red light. That’s another way you can tell the difference between these and fireflies-adult fireflies are rarely, if ever, seen feeding. Adults eat fermenting fruit, pollen, and smaller insects. Larvae of this species eat both plants and invertebrate animals, including the larvae of other species of beetle. Worldwide this family is well diversified in Central and South America.
South Texas offers the best opportunity to see these insects. There are 3 species north of Mexico and 2 species in FL-GA region.
When touched by a possible predator, for example, they become brighter.
However, they do seem to be able to control the intensity of the light they emit. Unlike fireflies, these glowing click beetles don’t flash. Like firefly larvae, their larvae are also bioluminescent.
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