Cave Waitomo and his worms

By Claudia Beltran

The Cave Waitomo, located in New Zeland in the region of Waitomo, is populated by a glow worm (Arachnocampa luminosa). These worms create a sticky silk thread, that traps their prey. In the end of their sticky silk thread there is a litlle lightning bubble, the mosquitoes and other flying insects get trapped on these threads.
The larva makes a nest out of silk on the ceilling of the cave and then hangs down about 70 threads of silk, called snares, from around the nest, each up to 30 or 40 centimenters long and holding droplets of mucus. Their larva stage lasts about 6 to 12 months, depending on food. The larva emerges from the egg only about 3 to 5 millimetres long, and throughout its life grow to about 3 centimeters.
The adults live only a short time. They glow intermittently, their sole purpose is to mate. The female lays a total of 130 eggs in clumps of 40 or 50 and dies soon after laying.
The larva has few predators, their greatest danger is from human interference.


Entrance of the Cave Waitomo.

Ceilling of the Cave Waitomo.
Glow worm.