Bioluminescence of the larvae of the click-beetle (Pyrearinus termitilluminans) in termite mounds, Parque Nacional das Emas, Goiás, Brazil.

Just back from Brazil. One of my main goals was to see and photograph the bioluminescence in Parque Nacional das Emas. The end of October and start of November is the best time to witness this spectacle. When the first rains fall after the dry season, the larvae of the click-beetle (Pyrearinus termitilluminans) move to the outside of the termite mounds ("cupinzeiros" in Portugese). On dry, humid and wind still nights the larvae emit a greenish light. The larvae seem most active until about 10 pm. The light attracts insects (especially flying termites and ants) which are then killed and eaten by the larvae. Each termite mound can have hundreds of larvae, each with their own "green lantern". The termite mounds resemble large "apartment buildings" in a city at night. When I focused on one of the termite mounds I used a flash light. I then saw giant centipedes and millipedes (about 15-20 cm long) on the mound which quickly disappeared in the many small cavities. I suspect that they were eating invertebrates too, perhaps even the beetle larvae themselves, but I do not know that for sure.

In the image below other termite mounds with green light are visible in the background. I added a small amount of light with a flashlight on the right, both in the foreground and in the background, to balance the image. The glow in the sky is from lighting and distant towns.

Click here for more images of Parque Nacional das Emas

Like Marcel Huijser Photography on Facebook

All content © 2015 Marcel Huijser

Bioluminescence of the larvae of the click-beetle (Pyrearinus teBioluminescence, Parque Nacional das Emas, Goiás, Brazil. At the beginning of the rainy season, the larvae of the click-beetle (Pyrearinus termitilluminans) move to the outside of the termite mounds and emit a greenish light. The larvae use this light to attract flying insects and then they prey on them.