Glow Worm Facts
Glow Worms are pretty fascinating animals! Glow worms are actually fly larvae that glow in the dark to attract and catch small insects. Glow worms are extremely useful in our Australian ecosystems because they help control insect populations. They are found across Australia and New Zealand with 9 known species.
Glow worms live in dark, wet environments, preferably in caves if they can find them, although on the Gold Coast of Queensland, they don't have any caves to live in, so the local species, Arachnocampa flava are usually found beside waterfalls.
Want to know the best places to see them in the wild? Check our guide to where to find glow worms in Australia.
What are Glow Worms?
Glow worms are the bioluminescent larvae of fungus gnats found in dark, humid environments like caves, rainforests, and under waterfalls across Australia and New Zealand.
Glow worms are the larvae (immature stage) of a small fly. The larval stage is the only stage in their life cycle that can glow. The adults are delicate flies that do not have working mouthparts, and as such, only live for a small number of days (females two days, males six days). As the adults are unable to feed, glow worms must gain enough sustenance during the larval stage to get them through the rest of their lifecycle. The larvae are believed to live for approximately one year, although this is heavily dependent on environmental conditions and the availability of food.
Why Do Glow Worms Glow?
Glow worms have a luminescent glow called bioluminescence or glowing light, to attract small insects that emerge from the leaf litter and water to where the glow worms reside. The glow worms construct "snares" (like a spider's web) made from silk threads and sticky droplets to capture and eat the insects attracted to their glow. Their light display makes glow worms one of the most unique bioluminescent creatures in Australia.
How Do Glow Worms Glow?
The light of a glow worm is also known as bioluminescence or light produced by a living organism. There are many different animals that have bioluminescent properties including:
- Fireflies, glow worms and other insect larvae
- Arachnids (spiders)
- Annelids (ringed worms)
- Some deep-sea fish and squid
- And certain varieties of bacteria and fungi
The light Glow Worms emit is produced by a chemical reaction. A pigment called "luciferin" reacts with the enzyme "luciferase" and adenosine triphosphate (also called ATP*) and with the oxygen in the air to create the blue-green light that you see the glow worms emitting in our cave.
Are Glow Worms Endangered?
Glow worm populations are sensitive to changes in humidity, light pollution, and habitat disturbance. Human traffic, noise, and flash photography can affect their ability to feed and glow. That’s why at Tamborine Mountain, we’ve created a protected environment to ensure their survival and allow visitors to observe them responsibly.
All images on this page are copyrighted to Anthony O'Toole. Written permission must be gained before use.
* ATP molecules are found in all living cells. ATP molecules make any energy-consuming actions (running, jumping, moving fingers etc) possible by storing the energy obtained by food and releasing it when needed. ATP is a necessary part of the reaction needed to create the light a glow worm produces
Glow Worm FAQs
Are glow worms real worms?
No — glow worms are not actually worms. They are the larvae of a type of small fly, most commonly fungus gnats.
Where are glow worms found in Australia?
Glow worms are found in moist, sheltered environments across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria — typically in rainforests, beside waterfalls, and in caves.
Do all glow worms glow the same colour?
Most Australian glow worms emit a soft blue-green light, though colour intensity can vary slightly depending on the species.
When is the best time to see glow worms?
After dark and especially after rain, when insect activity is high. Avoid full moon nights for optimal visibility of their glow.
