10 Fun Facts About New Zealand Glowworms

1. A Glowworm is Not Actually a Worm

First things first, we might all know glowworms as “glowworms” but they are not actually worms. The glowworms we see in New Zealand are fungus gnat, which is basically a short-lived type of flying insect. The stage that most of us see them in when they are glowing is in their larval or pupal stage. In other words, glowworms in this stage are shiny maggots.

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2. Glowworms Only Eat During Their Larval Stage

Glowworms have a pretty crazy life, which we’ll get onto later, but during their larval stage is the only time glowworms eat. This stage of their lifecycle lasts approximately nine months.

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3. The Hungrier a Glowworm, the Brighter it Glows

Just as our stomachs will rumble as we get hungrier, the glowworm glows brighter the hungrier it gets. The female also grows brighter than the male during the pupa stage to ensure that it has a mate when it’s time to hatch.

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4. Glowworms are Very Territorial

Cave real estate is pretty valuable in the caves of New Zealand. When one glowworm encroaches on another, it can result in glowworm fights and occasional cannibalism.

Want to learn more about the habitat of the glowworms? See the 10 Fascinating Facts About the Waitomo Caves.

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5. The Glow is Caused by “Sciencey Stuff”

So why does the glowworm glow? The glow is a result of a chemical reaction involving the luciferase enzyme acting on the luciferin substrate then combing with adenosine triphosphate and oxygen. Simple!

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6. Glowworms Catch Their Prey in Sticky Lines

If you look closely at a glowworm during its larval stage, you’ll see that there will be fine beaded lines dangling from the larva. Glowworms create as many as 70 lines measuring 20-150mm (7-59″) long. The beads are thick drops of sticky mucus used to catch small insects attracted but the glowworm’s light.

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7. Glowworm Nests are like Hammocks

Glowworms base themselves in individual nests attached to the roof of the cave. The nests hang like a hammock and are made of silk which can be repaired and reconstructed.

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8. The Glowworm Has Four Main Stages in its Lifecycle

Glowworms live their lives in four stages. First, they are an egg for 20-24 days. Next, they are a larva, which is when the glowworm builds a nest, makes its lines, glows and feeds. This stage lasts approximately nine months. Then, the glowworm becomes a pupa. This is when the glowworm morphs into a fly, taking 12 to 13 days. Finally, the glowworm becomes a fly. The females die quickly after laying their eggs, usually less than a day, while males can live up to five days.

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9. Titiwai is the Maori Word for Glowworm

Glowworms in Maori are known as “Titiwai”. This loosely translates to “lights that reflect on the water”.

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10. An Adult Glowworm Has No mouth

So why do adult glowworms in the fly stage live such a short life? Well, it might be partly due to the fact that the adult fly has no mouth! They basically just mate and die.

© Shaun Jeffers - THL