A Luminous Centipede

Abstract

WAS not the insect seen by Miss Rose Haig Thomas (see NATURE, p. 131) a specimen of the Myriapod Scolopendra electrica, or Geophilus electricus, a well-known luminous insect whose light is but rarely seen owing to the insect living underground and in manure heaps? It is, however, the only luminous British species. I have but once seen one crawling abroad at night, but I know the insect well. It may be readily captured in the daytime. The light is bright and the colour is the same as that of the glow-worm. According to my observation both sexes are luminous, and the light is not peculiar to the summer season, as is that of the British glow-worm, hence the meeting of the sexes can scarcely be the object of the luminous prevision.