We’ve found something you should probably add to your bucket list: seeing glowworms in New Zealand.
The limestone Waitomo caves on the North Island of New Zealand hold the only known species of one of the most amazing insects in existence. Only about the size of a mosquito, luminous glowworms turn the caves into what looks like another universe.
Looking up, you can see clusters of brilliant blue light emitted from the breathtaking creatures as they hang from the ceiling. It almost looks like the night sky.
This species, known by the scientific community as Arachnocampa luminosa, are not actually worms, but the larval stage of a gnat (a flying insect).
The larvae create nests on the ceiling of the cave and hang up to 70 silk threads that remain suspended to catch prey. Each thread is 3 to 4 cm long and holds a droplet of mucus.
By glowing, the larvae attract prey (such as mayflies, mosquitoes and moths) which are then entangled in its threads.
You can tell how hungry each “worm” is by the light they emit: Hungry larvae glow brighter than those that has already eaten.
They’re also very sensitive creatures, and will cease to glow when they or their snares are touched.
Image: 2il org
These ethereal insects are able to glow as a result of a chemical reaction similar to that of fireflies.
According to the Waitomo website, “Its tail glows because of bioluminescence, which is a reaction between the chemicals given off by the glowworm and the oxygen in the air. This chemical reaction produces light, which the glowworm can control by reducing the oxygen to the light organ.” Wow!
Watch this insanely beautiful time-lapse of the Waitomo caves:
