Rhagophthalmus motschulskyi    莫氏凹眼螢

Morphological features：Male body length 8.5 – 9.5 mm; pronotum black, posterior angles with light yellow marks. Elytra dark brown, basal region and entire margin light yellow. Male lacks light organ. Larva with each tergal plate bearing a large, transverse dark brown marking occupying most of the surface, leaving a thin pale median line and the margins. The marking becomes smaller and paler towards the posterior end. Female body length 13-16 mm, wingless, larviform, very similar to larva except with paler and less prominent brown marking on the tergal plates. At night, posterior end of abdomen curls up to show its very large light organ, emitting continuous light.

Distribution: Dongguan and Guangzhou in Guangdong, and in Hong Kong’s Tai Po Kau, Kam Tin, Tin Shui Wai, Ma Shi Po, Fu Tei Au, Ma On Shan, Lam Tsuen, Wu Kau Tang, Diamond Hill, Tai Tong, Pak Shek Shan Road, and Mui Wo. (Before I discovered and photographed this species in April 2024, it was previously thought to be endemic to Hong Kong. It is currently listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.)

Adult flight period：Late March to June

Other information：After oviposition, female shows 33 light spots and surrounds the eggs. It is much more commonly encountered in villages and farmlands, even in urban parks, than in wild places. Larvae predate on millipedes. 

 

形态特征：雄萤体长约8.5-9.5毫米，前胸背板黑色，后角有淡黄色斑；鞘翅深褐色，基部及全部边缘淡黄色，雄萤缺发光器。幼虫背板深褐色，中线和边缘淡黄色，最后几节背板色斑渐细，颜色渐淡。雌萤体长约13-16毫米，无翅，极似幼虫，只是背板色斑较淡、较不明显；晚间腹部端部向上反，露出巨大发光器，持续发光。

分布地点：新记录于中国广东东莞、广州（于我在2024年4月发现并拍摄这组照片之前，它原被认为是香港特有种类，目前该种类被国际自然保育联盟列为近危。）参考香港的资料，它被记录分布于香港的大埔涌、锦田、天水围、马屎埔、虎地坳、马鞍山、林村、乌蛟腾、钻石山、大棠、柏架山道、梅窝。

成虫活跃月份：3月下旬至6月。

其他资料：雌萤产卵后会包围卵团，并发出33点光。在有人聚居的乡村或耕地，甚至市区公园的记录远比在野外的多。幼虫猎食马陆。