Glow Worms Glowing

[PyreneesPlot]

So excited by this.
We've been trying to manage our patch with glow worms in mind and the glowing this year has been really good.

Tonight we saw two females start to glow just on the edge of the veg garden, their first night of glowing. Within an hour the first one has stopped glowing and the second had the attention of seven males Considering sometimes a female may glow for ten nights without attracting a single male, this is brilliant.

This year we have had 8 glowing females so far, compared to one just three years ago. Look out slugs, they're coming to get you.

[Verinda]

Is it possible to take photos of them? Or is it too dark? I'd love to see a glow worm!

[Two_Sheds]

Photos! Video !


I love them, you are so lucky. I saw them once, in Cornwall. Amazing creatures.

[rustylady]

I've not seen a glow worm since I was a child in Devon. Lucky you.

[scarey55]

We have seen one this year What have you done to encourage them PP? I am keen to have more around me.

[PyreneesPlot]

These pics were taken earlier in the year - glowing season is May-August. They are not very clear!!




There is a post on my blog with a few more pictures.

I went out this morning and marked the locations to remind me to be very careful in those areas. I've never seen the eggs, so something to look out for.

[alldigging]

I have only seen them in Cornwall on the way to Lizard point lighthouse when I was .. oo many years younger. Was very impressed by them.

[Whitney]

Feeling so envious right now. We had several on one of our flower beds before but sadly I think most died as we didn’t know then how to care for them. I'm hoping they will come back.

[Two_Sheds]

We had several on one of our flower beds before but sadly I think most died as we didn’t know then how to care for them.

They only live for 2 weeks (as adults), and they don't even feed, just mate (and glow!)

UK Glow worm survey home page

[PyreneesPlot]

The female stops glowing once mated, so the less time she glows for, the better. For her, at least! Presumably that also gives the female time to find a good place to lay eggs, although I don't think they have the strength to move far.

I just make sure I have lots of untidy grassy places, stones to hide under. And, of course, a plentiful supply of small slugs.

Whenever I put trowel or fork to the beds, I'm always on the look out for the larvae and move them around the beds to stop them being disturbed again.

[Inastate]

My girlfriend blew my mind when she told me we had glow worms in the UK. I take it they don't make it as far up as the North-East?