“I Left My Camera Out Overnight In A Glow Worm Spring… Here’s What It Saw!”

Did you know that most of the world’s glow worms are in New Zealand and Australia? That is part of the reason why so many tourists flock to the Waitomo Caves. This network of caves contains what is called The Glowworm Caves, the most famous of this network of caves. Inside, countless glowworms called Arachnocampa luminosa quietly reside.

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For over 130 years, visitors have marveled at this beautiful glowworm spring. Recently, Derek Culver was one of them. This talented photographer came up with the idea of leaving his camera pointed inside the cave overnight. That way, he could capture the glowing creatures when they were all alone. The result of this creative experiment? Some of the most magical footage you have ever seen! See for yourself in the video below.

Glowworms are such beautiful, fascinating creatures. Their official name, Arachnocampa luminosa, reveals quite a bit about them. When broken down, the name means “spiderlike larva that produces light.” But their spiderlike qualities do not come from their appearance. Instead, it stems from the reason behind their gorgeous glow.

When you see a glowworm shining in the darkness, what you’re spotting is its tail. This glow is caused by a chemical they secrete. This chemical reacts to oxygen, creating the light we see. This very light is what attracts prey to the glowworms’ sticky threads that they spin — similar to a spider!

“Our planet is so breathtakingly beautiful,” someone points out in the comment section of Derek’s video, with another adding, “I visited Waitomo this year and took a tour — I will never forget the silent boat ride under a constellation of these glowing beauties!”

You can find the source of this story’s featured image here!