Geophilus

GEOPHILUS, a genus of centipedes, family Geophilidae (order Chilopoda, class Myriapoda); body slender and elongated, with 31-173 segments (see figure); eyeless; some species phosphoresce in darkness, hence the name "glowworms". G. longicornis, the long-horned glowworm, lives in the roots and tubers of potatoes, carrots and others. They can crawl into wormholes in apples and other fruits that have fallen to the ground; they also live under bark and under stones. When eating fruits infested with glowworms, the latter can penetrate into the nasal cavity and adjacent sinuses of humans, where they live for a longer or shorter time, causing irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane, severe headaches, dizziness, convulsions and other nervous symptoms. Glowworms can also enter the nasal cavity when sniffing flowers, grass or when sleeping on the ground. The most common such pseudoparasite is Geophilus carpophagus. Cases of pseudoparasitism by Geophilus sinulis, G. electricus, G. cephalicus have also been noted. Cases of live glowworms emerging from the intestine are much rarer. The anterior pair of legs of the glowworm, transformed into gnathopods, contains poisonous glands. With their venomous bites, the glowworm can kill an earthworm, but its toxicity has no practical significance for humans.