It is likely a firefly larva, all life-stages of the firefly emit a glow. Not poisonous.

That is a pretty good description of a firefly larvae, but for the size. Yours seems awwwffffuuuuly big!

Sounds more like a butterfly or moth larva. Io moth comes to mind. Gave away all my insect books a couple of years ago.

thanks squirley, rhizo and larry for the possible i.d. -as for the critter's size, maybe i'm just using too much aged horse manure. ha! i will do some more investigating. min

IO moth larva largely green, not flesh colored, does not glow.

Check out the link to see some research I did on the same type u talked about....my skin is really crawling from seeing that on my front porch

Here is a link that might be useful: Glow Worm

thanks a lot for your message, tobita - i had given up on getting any more answers. your link makes it seem likely that 'my' larva was some kind of glow worm but i will have to find my very poor photo of it to make a better comparison.

it didn't glow until i had used the flash outside at night to take the photo and then it suddenly glowed so brightly that i was shocked. i let it go in the garden (never touched it!) and i havn't seen another since then. i'm wondering now if it came here on a plant from a nursery- no telling what is being distributed all around the world that way.

i always welcome any more information. min

Got one (2.5 in.) in mo. 1961, And still have the moth It made. Large and lime green.