Re: Nothern CA bugs that glow in the dark?

Hi Tonja,

My best guess is that you have found a female or a larva of a phengodid beetle. These beetles are commonly known as glow worms; however, the term glow worm is applied to a number of different families, so it is best to note down the family phengodidae of which I believe this insect is a member. If you want to pursue this further then email this website which specialises in californian bugs: CITYBUGS E-MAIL. You can view their web page on Phengodidae to see if what you have is a phengodid glow worm. I am basing my guess on the your comments that it glows generally from all over its body and the size, and also your location.

Richard Kingsley