The search for larvae of the Atyphella atra species of firefly at Springbrook has been ongoing since 2001.
The only information available on this type species is that it was named in 1921 by entomologist Arthur Mills Lea.

Based on well intended information received from two different sources, the search has been concentrated for some years now in looking for a bioluminescent larvae that resembles a serrated flatworm.

After 5 years of searching at night in every September-November period before our fireflies start to become active, no bioluminescent larvae resembling the supposed stereotype image of a serrated flatworm have been found either on the ground, under the ground, in creek beds nor up in trees within a one kilometre radius of the annual firefly display/mating area.

There is however one terrestrial bioluminescent larvae that inhabits the soil under forest litter in large numbers.  This larvae has been deliberately overlooked as experts assure me it is the larval stage of a moth, not a firefly.
In the September-November period there are both adult and half-grown juvenile specimens of these larvae in the ground.

Mature larvae of the subject type being studied have in the past been observed in trees on moss and lichen covered bark.

I first noticed these larvae high up in trees in 1998 and mistook them for glow worms as the bioluminescence is similar in colour to, although not as bright as glow worms.
On closer inspection the tail glows continuously and when disturbed and in motion the head, tail and the whole digestive tract of the larvae exudes bioluminescence in the blue/green spectrum not unlike a neon tube.
They inhabit areas on our property that produce luminous forest litter.
These same forest floor areas are heavily cultivated by the local scrub turkeys.

The maturity of the larvae seems to coincide with the emergence of the fireflies in November.

	Click each image for larger view. Each image opens in a new window.
			<<<   This bioluminescent larvae is what we incorrectly suspected to be the larvae of our local species of firefly.
Larvae removed from their mucus-like casings.   >>>				<<< Larvae still encased in mucus-like casing.
	<<<   Larvae extracted from soil still inside the residue of their mucus-like casings.		Larvae still encased in mucus-like casing.     >>>

2006 Search :

Soil samples were taken from one of three different areas last night. 26-09-2006

Area #2 soil was quite moist being in close proximity to a creek.
At an elevated point above Area #2, close to the location used for annual firefly viewing, the soil was by comparison very dry and contained small tree roots and fibrous root material.
However another area has been chosen as the prime study area and is now referred to as Area #3.

This promising area close to Area #1 is the area from which 100mm deep soil samples will be taken away in containers by students for observation and feedback to the larvae search program.

References:

Australian Biological Resources Study (ELATEROIDEA: Atyphella Atra)

Lampyridae of Australia (COLEOPTERA:Lampyridae:Luciolinae:Lucioloni) Ballantyne and Lambkin.

Olliff (1890) provided the first description of an Australian lampyrid larva, that of the Mt Wilson firefly, Atyphella lychnus Olliff, which he found under some decaying wood. The larvae are elongate, flattened and somewhat narrowed anteriorly and posteriorly. The thoracic and abdominal tergites are sometimes laterally expanded to form projections as in Atyphella. The head is small and retractable and usually concealed by the pronotum. The mandibles are curved and perforate. Abdominal segment 8 bears a luminous organ, segment 9 is terminal and 10 has a holdfast organ consisting of several eversible, asperate, tubular filaments (Lawrence 1982).