Lucihormetica grossei
Taxonavigation
| Taxonavigation: Blaberoidea |
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Superregnum: Eukaryota |
Familia: Blaberidae
Subfamilia: Blaberinae
Genus: Lucihormetica
Species: Lucihormetica grossei
Name
- Lucihormetica grossei Fritzsche, 2003
Description
Lucihormetica grossei is a medium‑sized glowspot cockroach (body length ~25–30 mm) in the Neotropical genus Lucihormetica. A glossy, dark brown to nearly black exoskeleton shows a finely punctate texture on both pronotum and tegmina.
- Pronotal glowspots: Two oval, yellow‑orange patches sit symmetrically on the pronotum. These spots house bioluminescent symbiotic bacteria and glow softly at night—likely an aposematic signal to predators.
- Body form: The dorsal outline is broadly oval, with tegmina (forewings) that cover most of the abdomen but are too stiff for sustained flight. Hind wings are reduced.
- Antennae & legs: Long, filiform antennae extend well past the pronotum’s posterior; legs are slender with distinct spines on the femora and tibiae, adapted for gripping bark and leaf litter.
- Habitat & behavior: Known from humid montane forests of Venezuela and northern Ecuador (1,000–2,000 m elevation), it shelters under decaying logs and bark. Nocturnal and slow‑moving, it emits a faint glow when disturbed.
Primary references
- Fritzsche, I. 2003: [Lucihormetica grossei n. sp. - a new species of "glowing cockroaches" from Venezuela (Dictyoptera: Blaberidae: Brachycolini).] Arthropoda, 11(4): 7–13. [not seen] Reference page.
- https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/264361642