dismalite

noun

1. The carnivorous larva of the gnat Orfelia fultoni, which emits bright, blue light via bioluminescence.

   Although the creatures known locally as Dismalites are "close cousins" of rare glowworms found in Australia and New Zealand, they are actually fly larvae related to fungus gnats, said Auburn University entomologist Gary Mullen, who has studied the insects.

Where it comes from

From Dismal(s Canyon) + -ite, named after the place where these creatures are found.

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry dismalite (CC BY-SA 4.0).

← disinfographicdisme →

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