Bug, help with name

[Bengoodall]

Right, I was out the back, trying to find my horrid beasts (read, cats), and saw what I thought was a glow worm, until I got it inside, and found it was a bug instead.


Had what I can only describe as platelet armour down its back, three pairs of legs at the front, small head, and under the very tip, on the bottom only, the top being covered with plate, is a shining lime green coloured glow bit.

Dad apparently last saw them on a ship heading to south america, but, being a fair distance from south america, and the amount of cheap booze he was going through at the time, I doubt that a little.

Which leaves the question, what the hell is this thing?

If I have to post pictures, I will, but that involves finding the camera.

 

[PegaZus]

Think its time to start huntin\' fer yer pic taker.

 

[airhead]

firefly / lightning bug?

 

[Dragon Forge Design]

I was going to say it sounds like a fire fly but airhead beat me to it. Normally the ones found in the USA are yellow but a blue gren variant has crept its way up here now from South America. There are some nights in the spring when there are thousands in my back yard.

 

[AinuLainour]

Originally posted by airhead
firefly / lightning bug?

You\'re not Bill!!

 

[matty1001]

Bill would give the latin name and a full life history of the bug in question.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by matty1001
...and a full life history of the bug in question.

Photuris lucicrescens, Frank to his friends, emerged from the bark of a scrub oak in the backyard of the Beacon residence June 28th, 2007. After spending a couple of days flashing his ass off he is looking forward to his retirement when he plans to take up painting and avoid getting eaten by a female.

Einion

 

[Bill]

Yup, I think Airhead is right

It could have been any of several species of Lamypryidae They\'re quite interesting, two species in particular, in which a photuris versicolor female changes the sequence of her flashes either to attract males of her own kind, or the sequence which attracts males of a photinus ignitus which she then eats The male photinus contain a chemical called lucibufagin which is a powerful repellent to birds and other predators, so the female photuris aquire defence from eating the photinus males.

 

[Bengoodall]

Right, after catching said bug, and leaving up on the mantle piece to take a picture in the morning, I find my mother has \"let it free\", so Ill have to see if I can catch it again tonight for a pic.

But, it did look kind of like that pic, but the rear pair of legs were closer to the head, so more of a larval form, and on top, instead of having a two part split down the middle, this one had about 8 plates, very much like a tyranid of some kind.

But the underneath is pretty close, with the glow bit in much the same place.

 

[Bill]

Could indeed have been a larva (the one on the right):

 

[funnymouth]

certainly sounds like a larval firefly. post a pic!
there is a fantastic websight that will be of more help than a mini sight, that i regularly frequent:

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/

 

[Bengoodall]

Bill, thats the bugger!!


What is it?

 

[Swordwind]

Plasma bug. You need to nuke it right away.

 

[funnymouth]

firefly
Elateroidea larvae

 

[Bengoodall]

Thats thebugger

And why must I nuke it?

 

[supervike]

Originally posted by Bengoodall

And why must I nuke it?

Plasma Bug?

You must nuke it to save all of mankind!!

 

[Swordwind]

Nuke \'em Rico!

You need to nuke it asap because it shoots plasma out of its rectum that can bring down the Federations mightiest battleships.

Would you like to know more?

 

[Bengoodall]

I just got that joke......

And I still think we all need to get out far more than what we currently dolol

Speaking of things that shoot plasma out their ass, why are there paris hilton banners everywhere (I have no idea where the plasma comes into it either)