In stream caves, the main insects caught are stoneflies and mayflies. Flying insects, attracted to the lights, become trapped and are then eaten. The larva builds a hollow, tubular nest of silk and mucous from which it suspends sticky threads up to 30 cm long. Fireflies use the ability to glow for attracting mates.

This may be a clue as to why an animal might be bioluminescent but the ability to glow is different. The chemical reaction and the resultant unstable by-product are often referred as ‘an excited state’. They are able to switch on and off at will. A chemical reaction in their abdomen produces a cold blue light. Glow-worms are the luminous larval stage of a fungus gnat. The lightly shaded regions roughly correspond with the distribution of rainforest. Map of the eastern coast of Australia showing some typical locations of Glow-worms. The geographic distribution of the glow-worms in Australia encompasses the montane regions of the eastern Australian coastline from the wet tropics region of northern Queensland to the cool temperate and montane rainforests of southern Australia and Tasmania.

The moist, sheltered surface habitats are their ideal choice, such as rainforest gullies and wet caves. (Baker, et al., 2008) The glow-worm caves are regarded as the natural heritage and the fantastic choice for travelling. They are only found in Australia and New Zealand.

Thousands of them all cluster on ceilings and walls-a myriad of bright blue lights resembling stars in the night sky. Glow-worms ( Arachnocampa tasmaniensis) are the spectacular underground sight. Glow-worms and its distribution in Australia

Download bioluminescent glow worms