Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Orfelia fultoni

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Genus
  
Orfelia

Phylum
  
Arthropoda

Rank
  
Species

Family
  
Mycetophilidae

Scientific name
  
Orfelia fultoni

Higher classification
  
Orfelia

Order
  
Fly

Orfelia fultoni wwwencyclopediaofalabamaorgimagesm7230jpg

Similar
  
Fly, Keroplatidae, Arachnocampa, Railroad worm, Arachnocampa luminosa

Orfelia fultoni is the only bioluminescent species of fly found in North America. It is distantly related to Arachnocampa. The larvae of the species live in stream banks among moss and rock cavities, as well as in wet sandstone caves. They build sticky webs, and using their two bioluminescent lanterns as an attractant, capture flying prey. They produce the bluest light of any studied bioluminescent insect. The species occurs in the Appalachian Mountains and Cumberland Plateau, primarily in the states of Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Orfelia fultoni has sometimes been referred to by the common name "dismalites", in consequence of their presence in Dismals Canyon, a National Natural Landmark in northwest Alabama.

References

Orfelia fultoni Wikipedia