A Taxonomist's Notebook

astronomy-to-zoology:

Found this on a trail on Northern California and was wondering what was going on here. We were thinking maybe the milli/centipede was eating the other thing. Thanks :)

So what is happening here is the larva of a Glowworm Beetle (Phengodidae), and probably a Phengodes sp., has captured and is feeding on a millipede (Probably a Tylobolus sp.). Glowworm larvae and adult females (males don’t feed) are noted for feeding almost exclusively on millipedes! They inject a toxin which kills the millipede, and the beetle than consumes its innards without rupturing its poison glands.  

(via entoderek)