[Rowland Shelley]

Thqanks Mike. Good to know that the Xystocheir was fluorescing under UV light. Yes, the bioluminescence in all 7 species of Motyxia involves the entire body, legs, antennae, the works. It is quite spectacular. I've collected them near Sequoia NP and played with them at night in my motel room; as soon as you turn out the lights, the animal is right there, all lit up in a neon white glow; it doesn't have to be handled or manipulated, just douse the lights and it's all lit up immediately. Causey & Tiemann characterized the substantial number of Motyxias out wandering around at night in one location as "resembling stars in the sky." The bioluminescence also seems to demonstrate a periodicity. I've also had colleagues collect some in the Sierras and send them to me in NC, which is 3 hours earlier than CA. When I tried to show my coworkers, I had to handle them substantially before they would begin to emit a faint glow, but when the time here was such that it was nighttime in Calif., all one had to do was turn out the light and the animals glowed without handling. You're not that far from Tulare Co., you should drive down there and see this yourself; they are pretty common at the right time of year near places like Hammond, outside the Ash Mtn. entrance to Sequoia NP. Rowland Shelley