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Glowworm is the common name for various different species of insect larva and adult larviform females which glow through bioluminescence. They may resemble worms, but all are insects (Arachnocampa being a fly and all the others being beetles). The major families are:
- Lampyridae (fireflies), found around the world. The wingless adult female is the glowworm of literature.
- Phengodidae, found in North America and South America.
- Arachnocampa (formerly called Bolitiphila), found in New Zealand and Australia.
The glow in each case is a blue-green colour. The so-called railroad worms in the Phengodidae family have an additional red light at their head. The glow is produced by different organs in the different families, suggesting they evolved separately. The chemical reaction in each case is very efficient; nearly 100% of the energy input is turned into light (compared to man-made fluorescent lamps at just 60%).
The purpose of the glow varies. Those adult females which glow do so to attract a male for mating. The Lampyridae larvae are believed to glow as a warning signal (see aposematism) to predators like toads not to eat them as they're mildly toxic. But the Arachnocampa larvae on the other hand glow to attract prey like midges into sticky snare lines for the larva to feed on.
See also
Articles about groups of glowworms:
Articles about glowworm locations:
- Glow-Worm Caves Tambourine Mountain, South-East Queensland, Australia
- Newnes Glow Worm Tunnel, Blue Mountains, Australia
- Natural Bridge, Queensland, Gold Coast hinterland, Australia
- Te Ana-au Caves, New Zealand (south island)
- Waitomo Caves, New Zealand (north island)
- Wellington Botanic Garden, New Zealand
References
- Glow worm article, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th edition
- Glow-worm article in the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand 1966, at teara.govt.nz
- The Glowworm Lifecycle at waitomocaves.co.nz
- The UK Glow worm Survey home page
"Glowworm"