Common European glow-worm
The Common European glowworm, scientifically classified under the genus Lampyris and belonging to the family Lampyridae, is a fascinating species of beetle known for its bioluminescent females, which use light primarily during courtship rituals. The male glowworm, drawn to light, often finds itself attracted to artificial sources, such as street lights. The female can grow to approximately 1/2 inch in length, while the male is smaller, measuring about 1/4 inch. Unlike many beetles, adult females and larvae lack wings and have a segmented body covered by overlapping plates with light-producing organs that convert luciferin into light.
The glowworm larvae feed on snails and slugs, utilizing their strong jaws to inject digestive fluids that turn the prey into a liquid form for consumption. The life cycle of the glowworm involves several molts over a span of about three years until they reach sexual maturity. Mating occurs shortly after reaching adulthood, with the female attracting her mate through her illuminated abdomen. After mating, she lays fertilized eggs, which hatch into larvae within two to four weeks, continuing the cycle of life for this unique insect. The adult glowworms have a short lifespan, primarily dedicated to reproduction.
Subject Terms
Common European glowworm
Like the firefly, the female common European glowworm is able to produce light. This light is used mainly during the courtship rituals. Because the male common European glowworm is attracted to light, it is also attracted to artificial lighting, such as street lights and porch lights.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Uniramia
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Lampyridae
Genus: Lampyris
Species: Noctiluca
Like other beetles, the common European glowworm is divided into the three main body parts of head, thorax, or middle section, and abdomen, or lower-body section. On its head, the common European glowworm has two small antennae and a pair of eyes. Behind its head, the six legs of the common European glowworm are attached to its thorax. The female common European glowworm may grow to a length of about 1/2 of an inch (one centimeter), while the male is only about 1/4 of an inch (1/2 centimeter) long.
Unlike most beetles, the common European glowworm is a very segmented beetle. In fact, the young common European glowworm and the female common European glowworm do not even have wings covering their segments. Their bodies are covered with 8 to 10 overlapping plates and end with two or three light-producing organs. These organs are able to turn a substance called luciferin into light with the help of oxygen.
Like other beetles, the male common European glowworm has elytra which cover his delicate rear wings. Elytra are hard, protective covers which are formed from each of the adult male common European glowworm's front wings. When the beetle is resting, the elytra lay across the insect's segmented abdomen. But when the common European glowworm takes to the air, the elytra lift to allow the rear wings space to flutter. The elytra of the common European glowworm are long, smooth, and black and match perfectly with the hard covering of the insect's thorax.
The only time the common European glowworm feeds is when it is in its larval form. During this time it feeds on snails and slugs. The common European glowworm tracks snails by their slimy trails and then attacks them with its strong jaws. The larva injects deadly digestive fluids into the snail's soft body. These fluids turn the body of the snail into a thick, liquid substance which the glowworm is able to suck into its body.
The common European glowworm reaches its sexually maturity after about three years. Each of the many black segments of the larval common European glowworm's body has brown edges. As the common European glowworm grows, it molts, or sheds, its skin many times. Eventually it pupates, or moves into its final developmental stage. At this point it rests in the dirt, molts again, and transforms into its adult shape.
Shortly after reaching maturity, the common European glowworm begins the mating process. The wingless female attracts her mate by the shining of her brightly lit abdomen. The male then sees the light with his powerful eyes. The eyesight of the male is eight times more powerful than that of the female. This light display and response generally takes place at night when the light can be seen the best.
Once the male has spotted a female, he flies down on top of her, and the two mate. Shortly after mating, the female lays her fertilized eggs. Typically, the eggs of the common European glowworm are laid one at a time or in pairs. After two to four weeks, young common European glowworm larvae hatch from the eggs and continue developing.
Once the larvae have transformed into adult common European glowworms, they live for only a few days and spend all of their time in the mating process.