Glittering Glow Worms
In the faded tall grasses of field corners, cricket pitch margins and churchyards a tiny wonder lies. Late in the evening, after the sun has waved a rosy farewell to the day, sometimes you may be lucky enough to see twinkling yellow-green lights amongst the grasses.
Lampyris noctiluca, glow worms are not a particularly common species which makes finding them so much more exciting. The larvae live for three years under rocks and inside grassy tussocks, preying on snails and slugs. The adults live a few short weeks.
L. noctiluca aren't actually worms at all; they're beetles. It is the adult females that have a special, light emitting organ in their tails. Flightless, they climb up grass stems and use their
bioluminescence to signal to the winged males. In the daytime they hide away by burrowing into the soil to avoid predators. They live but a few weeks, mating and laying eggs.
The light is produced by combining oxygen with luciferin to make oxyluciferin. When oxyluciferin mixes with luciferase it glows. Unlike fire flies seen in other parts of the world which flash on and off, glow worms in Britain have a constant light.
Finding glow worms
Chose a still, warm night with a crescent moon. Avoid using a torch, rather let your eyes adjust to the darkness.
Look, without touching, into areas of long grass. The females will be nearer the top than the bottom. They aren't typically beetle-like but look much like a larvae.
Happy hunting and if your find some, let the UK Glow Worm Survey know.
Find out more here:
https://www.glowworms.org.uk/