Hunt for Glowworms
Did you know that only two countries in the world have glowworms, New Zealand and Australia? Did you know that glowworms are not really a worm, but are actually the larvae of mosquito-like flies called fungus gnats? Glowworms/Fungus Gnats are fascinating special native New Zealand insects. The Māori name for them is ‘titiwai’, which translates as, ’lights reflecting on water’. Read on to learn more about them, and then find out if there is a spot near you where you can see them at night yourself. You might find them inside damp caves, or in the bush, on banks near rivers or streams. In Taupo, we discovered lots near the Te Totara stream in Wairakei.
Just as caterpillars are the larvae of butterflies, and maggots are the larvae of flies, glowworms are the larvae of fungus gnats. Fungus gnats look like mosquitoes. They live as glowworms for about 9 months, and grow to the size of a matchstick. The light at the end of their body glows from an excretion that reacts with oxygen. They hang dozens of little sticky threads down, like fishing lines. Other insects are attracted to their light and fly into the sticky threads. The glowworm feels the vibrations and pulls the captured insect up to eat, much like a spider catching prey in its web. In the photos below, can you see the actual worm? Can you see its light glowing? Look how full of life the bank is at night! Can you spot any spiders amongst all the glowworms?
*Photo credit to our Coordinator, Rachel Thompson
The glowworm eventually wraps itself up in the sticky threads (much like a moth making a cocoon), and becomes a pupa. It stays in this stage for almost 2 weeks, before emerging as a fungus gnat. The female pupae still shine their blue light, this time to attract a male mate. When she emerges, there may be several males waiting for her!
The fungus gnat has no mouth, and cannot eat. It stays alive only long enough to mate, and for the female to lay eggs, before dying of starvation after a couple of days.
Glowworms are fascinating, and can be found all over New Zealand, in damp spots, with plentiful food sources. Look for them on banks in bush near streams, or inside damp caves. Good luck hunting!
Click HERE to download and print a pdf with more details about the glowworm life cycle.
Read and learn more about New Zealand glow worms HERE.