Glow-worm
Lampyris noctiluca
The Constant Lantern
Unlike American fireflies that "flash" in patterns, the female Glow-worm produces a steady, continuous light from the underside of her final three abdominal segments. She can maintain this glow for several hours each night.
Non-Feeding Adults
Once they undergo metamorphosis into adults, Glow-worms do not eat. Their digestive systems atrophy, and they live entirely off the energy stores they accumulated as "glowing" larvae.
Chemical Efficiency
Their bioluminescence is the most efficient light known in nature: about 41% of the reactions yield light. Very little energy is lost as heat.
Field notes
| Range | Europe & Asia |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | 2 to 3 years |
| Size | 12 mm to 25 mm |
| Weight | Approximately 0.1 g to 0.2 g |
| Colour | Dull Brown (Day) / Lime Green (Night) |
| Diet | Snails & Slugs (Larvae) / Nothing (Adults) |
| Family | A member of the Lampyridae family (Fireflies/Glow-worms) |
In the book
The Glow-worm is number 3 of the 101 creatures in Glowing Bugs. Its two pages show it from three sides, at its true size, with a map of where it lives. The plate is an artistic interpretation and does not show the true colours of the living animal.
