 Steve
Greatorex spotted this glowing creature (pink object at centre) during a mild spell in
December 2005 near Bickleigh in Devon and took this photo with his
phone camera. 'I didn't expect to see glow worms at the end of December so when I saw
a tiny bluish/greenish light on the road I switched on my torch to try
to see what caused it. I saw what looked like a tiny centipede/worm,
lots of legs, V-shaped 'feelers' at the end, light brown colour, about
2 to 3 cm long and 1 to 2 mm thick. I've seen one twice in recent
nights in the same area.'
Keith
Alexander has identified the creature from the description and
photograph as a geophilomorph centipede. You will have to seek
elsewhere for further information about these, but perhaps the reason
they glow is to discourage predators, as is believed to be the case
with the larvae of glow worms and fireflies. |