Subject: My kids must know what this is!!
Geographic location of the bug: Coker, Alabama
Date: 08/06/2018
Time: 02:28 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: My children have become bug lovers, like their mom! They like to explore and are constantly trying to find “critters.” Yesterday while we were playing in the creek near our home we found a HUGE millipede, a salamander, a crayfish, a lamprey, and this little guy/girl. I’m pretty quick with google and I know basic names for most of what we find but this one stumped me! Help us!!
How you want your letter signed: Keep on finding bugs!!
We strongly suspect you did not find this Railroad Worm in the creek unless it fell in. Railroad Worms or Glowworms are the bioluminescent larvae of Beetles in the family Phengodidae, and if it is still in your possession, you should look at it in the dark to witness the glow. If you do that, please send in a photo of this Glowworm glowing.
Thank you so much for your quick response!! Our railroad worm was not found IN the creek but near the creek where we were playing. We let him go so as not to harm him but I’ll definitively keep my eyes open for another siting and take a picture at night! So exciting!! Thank you again. 🙂