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Glow Worms

Glowworm or glow-worm is the common name for various groups of insect larvae and adult larva form females that glow through bioluminescence. The biochemical emission of light by living organisms is called bioluminescence.
An organ near the tail that is similar to a human kidney of a glow worm is the part that glows. They have a molecule called luciferin in them that combines with oxygen to form oxyluciferin. Then a chemical reaction takes place with luciferase produces the emission of blue-green light. Glowworms cannot control the supply of oxygen like other firefly species, so they cannot make the light look like it is flickering.

Glowworms hide during the day and come out during the night. By seeing the light from their tail region, small flies and mosquitos for the larva to eat. They eat only in the larva stage and do not eat after becoming an adult as most of the growing happens in the larva stage.
They are found in New Zealand and Australia. The Waitomo Caves in New Zealand is the home to a memorable type of glowworm. When tourists enter the Glowworm Grotto in small boats they can see the ceiling covered in small glowworms. if one doesn't make noise or use other sources of light, they will feel the night sky is filled with a thousand glowing stars.




Credits: Harini

Comments

  1. That would be cool to visit glowworm grotto. I have actually been to waitomo caves, and it is very cool.

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