Fungus gnats are not fireflies. In fact, they are considered a pest by many although they do assist in the decomposition of organic matter and help spread the seeds of certain plants and mushrooms. These glowworms primarily live in New Zealand and Australia.

Glowworms often look like worms but they are not. All are insects in the early stages of development. Although the term glowworm is scientifically dedicated to the four fly species mentioned earlier, it is the common name used for various groups of insect larvae that glow. Many beetles also glow including the popular firefly that can be seen at night during warm weather.

Fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, are not flies at all. In fact, they are winged beetles for the lampyridae family of insects. Fireflies create light from biological chemicals they produce. This light can be yellow, green or red.

There are 2,000 firefly species found throughout the world. They prefer warm and tropical environments which is why they can only be seen during warm weather months in some climates. The larvae of fireflies also glow, giving them the common name of glowworm.

Other species commonly referred to as glowworms due to their natural tendency to glow at different stages of the lifecycle include:

Phengodidae, also known as glowworm beetles, live throughout the world. They are predators and feed on millipedes and other insects as well as soil and litter. The wormlike larvae also glow during development.

Rhagophthalmidae, a family of beetles that live in Asia, have organs that glow. These beetles might be relatives of the firefly but it is not presently confirmed. Very little is actually known about these beetles. The females are wingless and look like larvae when at their final stage of development in the lifecycle.

While the thought of a glow worm may include images of fluorescent green inch-worms, a glow worm isn’t a glow worm at all but rather the larva of a gnat. In simple terms, it is a “luminous larva.” These luminous larvae are typically found in large numbers in dark caves and under rocky overhangs throughout Australia and New Zealand. Many of Australia’s caves and overhangs are major tourist attractions that currently earn more than $6 million dollars yearly by attracting thousands of visitors per night.

One of the most popular glow worm attractions for glow worm fans and curious types alike is Australia’s Natural Bridge Colony. Located in Springbrook National Park , Natural Bridge Colony is home to the largest colony of glow worms in the world. On any given day (at sunset), hundreds of tourists can be seen exploring the overhangs and crevices filled with literally millions of glow worms. Although the surrounding area is quite dark during this time, it appears as if the sun is shining from the overhangs and crevices of the area.

While the darkest and most sheltered areas such as caves and overhangs are the most popular places to find glow worms, they can also be found in wet soil, in trees, beside walking tracks, along creek embankments, and on woodland rides and heathland.

The glow worm uses its natural light, which emits from the abdomen, to attract prey such as Phorids (hunchback flies), Chironomids (midges), Psychodids (small black flies) and small snails. The glow worm creates a silk web (called a “snare”) made of mucus and long “fishing lines,” also made of mucus, to catch and immobilize prey. The fishing lines can reach up to nearly 1 ½” feet in length. Once the glow worms’ prey has been caught in the line or web, the glow worm feels the vibration of the catch and begins pulling it up using its mouth. The glow worm eats its prey whole or by feeding off of the insects’ juices. When the glow worm has had its fill, it doesn’t emit light until it works up an appetite again. The hungrier the glow worm is, the brighter the light will be.

In addition to cathcing prey, the female glow worm also uses its light to attract the male glow worm. Once the female glow worm mates, she may eventually lay more than 120 eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae begin to glow almost immediately.

Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park
Phone: 13 0013 0372
Toll Free: 1300 130 372
Email: csc@epa.qld.gov.au
Web: www.epa.qld.gov.au

Believe it or not fish can see in every direction except behind them and fish such as bass, walleye, pike, salmon, trout, steelhead, and most predatory fish can distinguish colors. Glowing lures are particularly successful because fish are attracted to light and fish can easily see them in dark or shadowy waters. Artificial non-glowing lures pretty much give off the same color underwater, even if they are a different color in the sunlight. Most artificial non-glowing lures look gray once they reach several feet underwater. This means that artificial non-glowing lures are most effective closer to the surface while glowing lures are effective near the surface and at 25 feet or possibly more underwater.

Glow lure comes in a variety of bright colors such as yellow, orange, red, blue, green, and violet. The colors must be arranged in a specific color pattern for maximum effectiveness. Some lures may have glowing scales, while others may have a glow pattern on the chest. One of the best places to add glow is the eye. Most predator fish lock in on the prey’s eyes. Because of this, most glow lure manufacturers create oversized glowing eyes on its lure, whether it’s worm-shaped lure or fish-shaped lure. This enhances the glow lure’s catching ability. In addition, glow lures easily stand out from its surroundings making the lure appear as “easy pickings” for fish.

What’s great about today’s glowing lures is that they are easy to charge and the glow lasts for hours. Unlike yesterday’s glow lures, which were made from zinc-based additives that quickly lost their glow, today’s glow lures are made from high-tech glow additives that take only 2-5 minutes to charge in any UV light. After only 2-5 minutes of charge time, your glow lure will remain illuminated for up to 8 hours in total darkness. What’s even more amazing is that today’s high tech glow lures do not have to sit directly in the sunlight or other UV light to charge. Today’s glow lure can catch a few UV rays even when dancing several feet underwater.

If you’re interested in purchasing glow lure, you can find it at your local bait and tackle shop or through a wide variety of bait and tackle suppliers online. If you’re searching online, use your favorite search engine to search the words, “purchase glow lure.” You should have no problems finding several retailers, which will allow you to shop and compare and find reasonable prices. To make your own glow lure, click here.

The Catalpa Sphinx is actually a common hawk or sphinx moth. It’s the larvae or caterpillar stage that you’re more likely to come across rather than the moth, which is dull and gray in color. The real name for the caterpillar of the Catalpa Sphinx is “Catawba Worm”or “Catalpa Worm.” The Catalpa Sphinx occurs in most southern states and throughout the eastern part of the United States. So if you live in any southern state or anywhere from Florida to New York and west to Iowa, Michigan, Kansas and Texas, chances are that bright “worm” you saw was a Catawba or Catalpa Worm.

The Catawba Worm feeds on Catalpa trees. Its appetite is so great that this pretty pest can strip an entire tree of its leaves. This can be a serious problem for Catalpa trees that provide shade or nursery stock, and Catalpa trees that are popular for their ornamental beauty. The Catawba does not feed on any other tree outside of the Catalpa tree, so these trees are subject to attack at all times. The larvae are currently considered a threat to the survival of the Catalpa tree. Catalpa trees grow in all of the states mentioned above as well as in central and south central states such as Illinois and Indiana, and south to Arkansas and Tennessee.

The four life stages of the Catalpa Sphinx include the egg, larva, pupa, an adult. The larva (the worm) is white to pale yellow and it has a black spine and a horn on its rear. When the larva begins to develop, the colors change slightly. The head turns completely black and the body remains pale yellow in color but black markings develop all over the body. The pupa is reddish brown, and the moth, as mentioned earlier, is gray.

Because the Catalpa tree is considered a prized tree, known for its shading capabilities and its status as an ornamental tree, many people consider the Catawba to be destructive with no real value to the environment. Because of this, pesticides are commonly used to control infestations. In addition to human threats, the Catawba worm is constantly under attack by the wasp. The wasp is actually a parasite that deposits its eggs through the skin of the Catawba. The wasp larvae actually feed on the insides of the Catawba, and when the wasps are ready to leave the host, they spin silken cocoons on the Catawba’s skin. An infected Catawba does not survive into adulthood.

While many would say the Catawba worm is a pest, most fishermen would disagree. Catawba or Catalpa worms are extremely popular for fish bait.

The process used to produce light is called bioluminescence. During this biochemical reaction several components work together to emit light. These components include: adenosine triphosphate or ATP (an energy molecule), luciferin (a waste product), luciferase (an enzyme) and pure oxygen. Some bacteria, fungi, and marine animals also have the ability to produce light as a protective device, a mating call or to catch prey. In some deep-sea forms, luminous organs may also serve as lanterns.

While the name “glow worm� may conjure up images of fluorescent green inch worms or the earthworms that can be found in just about any garden or on any sidewalk, a glow worm isn’t a worm at all! A glow worm is actually the larva of a gnat. In simple terms, it is a “luminous larva.� These luminous larvae are typically found in staggering numbers in dark caves and under rocky overhangs throughout Australia and New Zealand. Many of Australia’s caves and overhangs are major tourist attractions that currently rake in more than $6 million dollars each year by attracting hundreds of visitors per night.

One of the most popular glow worm attractions for tourists is Australia’s Natural Bridge Colony. Located in Springbrook National Park, Natural Bridge Colony is home to the largest colony of glow worms in the world. On any given day (at sunset), hundreds of tourists can be seen exploring the overhangs and crevices filled with literally millions of glow worms. Although the surrounding area is quite dark during this time, it appears as if the sun is shining from the overhangs and crevices of the area.

While the darkest and most sheltered areas such as caves and overhangs are the most popular places to find glow worms, they can also be found in wet soil, in trees, beside walking tracks, along creek embankments, and on woodland rides and heathland.

Glow worms use their natural light, which emits from the abdomen, to attract prey such as Phorids (hunchback flies), Chironomids (midges), Psychodids (small black flies) and small snails. The glow worm creates a silk web (called a “snare�) made of mucus and long “fishing lines,� also made of mucus, to catch and immobilize prey. The fishing lines can reach up to nearly 1 ½� feet in length. Once the glow worms’ prey has been caught in the line or web, the glow worm feels the vibration of the catch and begins pulling it up using its mouth. The glow worm eats its prey whole or by feeding off of the insects’ juices. When the glow worm has had its fill, it doesn’t emit light until it works up an appetite again. The hungrier the glow worm is, the brighter the light will be.

Glow worms use their light to do more than just catch prey. The adult female glow worm also uses the light to attract the male glow worm. Once the female glow worm mates, she may eventually lay more than 120 eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae begin to glow almost immediately.

Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park
Phone: 13 0013 0372
Toll Free: 1300 130 372
Email: csc@epa.qld.gov.au
Web: www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?parkid=31

Plastic glow worms and other types of fluorescent bait have been on the market for years. The first attempts at turning live brown worms into a glowing green began in Canada. Known as Nitroworms, they exploded on the market in shining glory with a patented – and secret – process. The internal dye was proven to be non-toxic to the worms. Even better, it did not change the worms’ appeal as bait. Catfish literally flocked to the live enticement, according to reports. Indeed, fishermen began boasting larger catches and even the ability to attract and hook heftier game fishes, including trout, walleye, and bass.

The demand for worms that had achieved a supernatural glow soon outgrew supplies. A cupful of the glow-in-the-dark variety was quite pricey compared to plain brown earth worms. It wasn’t long before other companies began tinkering with dyes that consumers could use at home to treat a batch of plain worms. The reduced expense meant another boost for glow worms. Many experimented with other colors, but it was the brightest green that won out for visibility under water.

Regular food dyes and other off-the-shelf products are petroleum-based, which kills worms. They also produce an unpalatable flavor that fish will avoid. Successful companies have since produced products that include a biological stain that combines with worm food or that is absorbed through the skin.

Nightcrawlers are among the most popular bait worms, if not the first choice for fishing enthusiasts around the world. The most common are European and Canadian. European nightcrawlers, or Eisenia hortenis, are often sold as Belgian worms, Carolina crawlers, and blue worms. Other popular names include red wigglers (although technically a separate species) and “super red.” Canadian nightcrawlers (Lumbricus terrestris) are much larger and often referred to as “dew” worms.

When purchasing nightcrawlers or true red wigglers, be sure to select healthy active worms. Follow instructions carefully for feeding or applying glow-in-the-dark formulas. Keep all worms at the recommended temperatures, which will vary among species.

Whether you purchase glow worms or produce your own, it is always wise to wash after handling. Most dyes, when transferred to human skin, can be easily removed with soap and water.

The glow worm glows because it has special organs (known as photic organs) along its body, paired on each segment. This glow is believed to be a signal to warn predators away, although some researchers suggest it may be a signal to attract male glow worms. The glow makes them easily visible to human eyes at night and that is when they are most active, living in burrows during the day. When they emerge at night, they hunt in leaf litter and sometimes also on tree trunks, although they require a moist environment to survive. They eat millipedes and other small insects.

Glow worms are native to North and South America. There are also insects in other parts of the world – notably the Unite Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand – that are known as glow worms, but these are from different insect families. Those in the southern hemisphere, for example, are actually types of fly. Glow worms are also sometimes confused with lightning bugs (also known as fireflies). While they are related, lightning bugs belong to the family Lampyridae. They do, however, glow like glow worms.

While glow worms may be fascinating insects, they are best observed in the wild. Whilst it is possible to catch them, it is difficult to keep them alive in captivity. They require a very stable environment. If you are lucky enough to see glow worms, enjoy the spectacle.

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