Tinglysings

Tinglysings are a loosely defined group of small, bioluminescent arthropods notable for a mild tingling sensation produced when they touch human skin. They occupy damp leaf litter and mossy understories in temperate forests across parts of the northern hemisphere, with occasional reports in coastal rainforests.

Description: Individuals range from about 4 to 12 millimeters in length. They have soft, flattened bodies with iridescent coloration in shades of green, blue, or amber. Many species possess faint bioluminescent organs along the thorax or abdomen that glow faintly in low light.

Chemistry and sensation: Skin contact can trigger a brief tingling or prickling sensation, attributed to surface secretions containing small alkaloid-like compounds. The effect is short-lived and not considered harmful.

Ecology: Tinglysings are mostly nocturnal detritivores or micro-holophages, feeding on decaying plant matter, lichens, and fungal filaments on rotting wood. Larvae develop in leaf litter, with pupation occurring in subterranean or bark shelters. They contribute to decomposition and serve as prey for small nocturnal predators and birds.

Distribution and conservation: They are most numerous in humid, shaded forests with abundant ground cover. Habitat disturbance, pollution, and deforestation can reduce local populations; while no species is broadly listed as endangered, regional declines have been reported in some areas.

Human interactions: They attract naturalists and photographers, and their tingling contact is a note of caution for researchers handling them.

Etymology: The name tingly-sings derives from the tingling sensation described by early field observers.