He glow is controlled by the insect regulating the supply of air to the organs. The enzyme luciferase (named after Lucifer, the “bearer of light”) acts to speed up the reaction. Glowing (bioluminescence) is caused when a molecule called luciferin is oxidized by adenosine triphosphate (ATP – the energy molecule), to produce oxyluciferin in specialized organs in the abdomen. As adults, their diet varies some feed on plant pollen or nectar, whereas others are predatory, or do not eat at all. Some have grooved mandibles that ooze digestive fluids onto their prey to digest them from the outside. As larvae, they feed on snails, slugs, worms and other insects. Glow worms are one of the very few insects that live inside the Arctic Circle. In drier regions, they are found around wet or damp areas that retain moisture. Fireflies are attracted to moisture, and often live in humid regions of Asia and the Americas. Glow worms live across the world in a variety of warm environments, as well as in more temperate areas. Typical habitats include grasslands, hedges, railway embankments, wetlands, and cliffs. Some live in drier environments, but they are then found in localized areas that retain moisture. Human Use – Some people have suggested that early humans used glow worms to provide light in huts and to mark pathsįireflies typically live in moist and humid areas.Life Span – In some species, once a female glow worm has mated, she turns out her light, lays her eggs and then dies.

Deception – Female Photuris fireflies mimic the mating flashes of other “lightning bugs” to attract them, whereupon they are pounced on and eaten.Mouthparts – Some adult glow worms do not have mouths.This makes glow worms very interesting animals. Their ability to produce light is not unique, though rare for land animals. Glow worms have an interesting life cycle, as the larvae are fierce predators but as adults, at least in some species, they do not eat at all.

Both larvae and adults can be a range of colors such as black, brown, yellow, green, or red. In both the larvae and adults, the light-producing organs are in the last few tail segments of the body. The females often look very similar to the larvae, but in many species, they are more flattened than the males, and do not have wings – which means they cannot fly. The adult males are medium-sized insects, segmented and elongated, often with long antennae. When they move about, they often use their tails to help them, which makes them look very similar to caterpillars. Rather, they have segmented bodies and six legs at the head end. Glow worm larvae are not worm-like at all.

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