Larval and larviform female glowworms are predators, feeding on millipedes and other arthropods occurring in soil and litter. The winged males, which are often attracted to lights at night, are short-lived and probably do not feed. Females are much larger than the males and are completely larviform. Males may be luminescent, but females and larvae have a series of luminescent organs on trunk segments which emit yellow or green light, and sometimes an additional head organ which emits red light. See railroad worms.
Note that this family is distinct from the firefliesLampyridae, which may also be called "glow-worms".
It also apparently includes the family Telegeusidae, which are only differentiated from phengodids by the unusual modifications of their mouthparts (thus, it appears that Phengodidae is paraphyletic if telegeusids are treated as a family).
The phylogenetic positions of the luminous cantharoid families [Omalisidae, Rhagophthalmidae and Phengodidae] in relation to Lampyridae are discussed, as well as the implications of the evolution of bioluminescence and photic signaling in this group of beetles.
The family Phengodidae is composed of bioluminescent species that commonly resemble fireflies in their general appearance and are usually also found to be sympatric with many firefly species.
While some researchers have previously hypothesized that the families Lampyridae and Phengodidae were close relatives and shared the charismatic ability to produce bioluminescent signals, these two families are perhaps more interesting than previously thought because they are not closely related and their bioluminescence is convergent.
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