Black Firefly larva

Description:

Black Fireflies are diurnal and have very weak light organs, but still have the defensive steroids that nocturnal fireflies possess. The female lays her eggs on or just below the surface of the ground. The larvae spend the majority of time underground and are predators of soil inhabiting insects including slugs and snails.

Habitat:

Eastern North America. Wooded areas. Found under a log.

Notes:

The egg on this larva is mostly likely a slug egg. There were quite a few slug egg clusters in the area and these firefly larvae are not known to be parasitic hosts. The egg was gone when this larva was observed a few hours later.