Firefly Larva
#5499 I found this worm on my kitchen counter after taking a garden decoration inside for the winter (we are end of October and have had some nights below freezing already) and sitting it on the counter. The decoration sits on top of cedar mulch. I live on the South Shore of Montreal, Quebec. The flat, hard-shelled worm is black on top (or very dark brown) and beige on his underside, has approx 10 segments, 6 legs, pushes himself along with his tail/bum and measures approx 1cm. This is the first I’ve ever seen one of these! Thanks! Jamie
This appears to be a larva of a firefly (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), which are general predators on other small arthropods. See # 5490 for another example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV