Biology:Railroad worm
| Railroad worm | |
|---|---|
| |
| Phengodidae Phrixothrix | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Phengodidae |
| Genus: | Phrixothrix Olivier, 1909 |
| Species | |
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(several) | |
A railroad worm is a larva or larviform female adult of a beetle of the genus Phrixothrix in the family Phengodidae, characterized by the possession of two different colors of bioluminescence.[1] It has the appearance of a caterpillar. The eleven pairs of luminescent organs on their second thoracic segment through their ninth abdominal segment can glow yellowish-green, while the pair on their head can glow red;[1] this is due to different luciferases in their bodies, as the reaction substrate, called luciferin, is the same.[2]
The "railroad worm" name arises because these glowing spots along the body resemble the windows of train cars internally illuminated in the night.[1] The light emissions are believed to possibly be a warning signal to nocturnal predators of their unpalatability or a defense function as they can suddenly be turned on spooking preditors with the sudden flash. When handled, larava may eject a possibly distastefull and corrosive reddish liquid.[1]
The term "railroad worm" is also sometimes applied to the apple maggot.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Branham, Marc (February 2005). "EENY332/IN609: Glow-Worms, Railroad-Worms (Insecta: Coleoptera: Phengodidae)". University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in609. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
- ↑ Bevilaqua, V. R.; Matsuhashi, T.; Oliveira, G.; Oliveira, P. S. L.; Hirano, T.; Viviani, V. R. (2019). "Phrixotrix luciferase and 6′-aminoluciferins reveal a larger luciferin phenolate binding site and provide novel far-red combinations for bioimaging purposes". Scientific Reports 9 (1): 8998. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-44534-3. ISSN 2045-2322. PMID 31227722.
- ↑ "apple maggot - Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh)". University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. March 2015. http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/fruit/tropical/apple_maggot_fly.htm. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
External links
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Wikisource has the text of the 1905 New International Encyclopedia article Railway Beetle. |
- Hastings, J. Woodland. "Images of bioluminescent organisms". Harvard University. Archived from the original on 2012-03-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20120327191953/http://www.mcb.harvard.edu/hastings/Images/bioluminescence.html. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
Wikidata ☰ Q7284101 entry
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