The larval stage of a fungus gnat, bioluminescent through a luciferin-luciferase reaction in its Malpighian tubules. This Tasmanian species lives in caves such as Marakoopa and Gunns Plains, spinning a silk nest and hanging up to 70 sticky, mucus-beaded threads to snare midges and other small insects.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom / phylum / class
- Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta
- Order / family / genus
- Diptera · Keroplatidae · Arachnocampa
Conservation
IUCN Red List assessment