Glow worms at Nichols Creek

New Zealand glowworms or titiwai (Arachnocampa luminosa) on the Nichols Falls Track, Dunedin.

Light is generated by a chemical reaction in the Malpighian tubules of the New Zealand glowworm or titiwai (Arachnocampa luminosa). The snares are mucus droplets on silk threads.
Arachnocampa luminosa Dunedin Leith Valley Malpighian tubules New Zealand New Zealand glowworm Nichols Creek Nichols Falls Track bioluminescent organ fungus gnat glow worm glowworm glowworms larva mucus mucus droplet silk thread snare titiwai Glow worms 032
Arachnocampa luminosa Dunedin Leith Valley Malpighian tubules New Zealand New Zealand glowworm Nichols Creek Nichols Falls Track bioluminescent organ fungus gnat glow worm glowworm glowworms larva mucus mucus droplet silk thread snare titiwai Glow worms 008
Arachnocampa luminosa Dunedin Leith Valley Malpighian tubules New Zealand New Zealand glowworm Nichols Creek Nichols Falls Track bioluminescent organ fungus gnat glow worm glowworm glowworms larva mucus mucus droplet silk thread snare titiwai Glow worms 010
Arachnocampa luminosa Dunedin Leith Valley Malpighian tubules New Zealand New Zealand glowworm Nichols Creek Nichols Falls Track bioluminescent organ fungus gnat glow worm glowworm glowworms larva mucus mucus droplet silk thread snare titiwai Glow worms 014
The New Zealand glowworm is the larva of a fungus gnat (Arachnocampa luminosa). It lives in a silk and mucus case suspended off silk threads. The snares are also mucus droplets on silk strands. From left to right you can see the body of the larva, the intestines, and the bioluminescnt organ (Maplighian tubules).
arachnocampa luminosa dunedin leith valley malpighian tubules new zealand new zealand glowworm nichols creek nichols falls track bioluminescent organ case fungus gnat glow worm glowworm glowworms intestines larva mucus mucus droplet nest silk thread snare titiwai glow worms 020
The intestines and Malpighian tubules of a glowworm (Arachnocampa luminosa)
arachnocampa luminosa dunedin leith valley malpighian tubules new zealand new zealand glowworm nichols creek nichols falls track bioluminescent organ case fungus gnat glow worm glowworm glowworms intestines larva mucus mucus droplet nest silk thread snare titiwai glow worms 020
This sequence of 3 images shows a glowworm retreating into its nest
Arachnocampa luminosa Dunedin Leith Valley Malpighian tubules New Zealand New Zealand glowworm Nichols Creek Nichols Falls Track bioluminescent organ case fungus gnat glow worm glowworm glowworms intestines larva mucus mucus droplet nest silk thread snare titiwai Glow worms 034
Arachnocampa luminosa Dunedin Leith Valley Malpighian tubules New Zealand New Zealand glowworm Nichols Creek Nichols Falls Track bioluminescent organ case fungus gnat glow worm glowworm glowworms intestines larva mucus mucus droplet nest silk thread snare titiwai Glow worms 040
Arachnocampa luminosa Dunedin Leith Valley Malpighian tubules New Zealand New Zealand glowworm Nichols Creek Nichols Falls Track bioluminescent organ case fungus gnat glow worm glowworm glowworms intestines larva mucus mucus droplet nest silk thread snare titiwai Glow worms 041
Glowworm nest with snares
Arachnocampa luminosa Dunedin Leith Valley Malpighian tubules New Zealand New Zealand glowworm Nichols Creek Nichols Falls Track bioluminescent organ case fungus gnat glow worm glowworm glowworms intestines larva mucus mucus droplet nest silk thread snare titiwai Glow worms 069
Arachnocampa luminosa Dunedin Leith Valley Malpighian tubules New Zealand New Zealand glowworm Nichols Creek Nichols Falls Track bioluminescent organ case fungus gnat glow worm glowworm glowworms intestines larva mucus mucus droplet nest silk thread snare titiwai Glow worms 082
The full body of a glowworm or titiwai (Arachnocampa luminosa)
Arachnocampa luminosa Dunedin Leith Valley Malpighian tubules New Zealand New Zealand glowworm Nichols Creek Nichols Falls Track bioluminescent organ case fungus gnat glow worm glowworm glowworms intestines larva mucus mucus droplet nest silk thread snare titiwai Glow worms 086
Arachnocampa luminosa Dunedin Leith Valley Malpighian tubules New Zealand New Zealand glowworm Nichols Creek Nichols Falls Track bioluminescent organ case fungus gnat glow worm glowworm glowworms intestines larva mucus mucus droplet nest silk thread snare titiwai Glow worms 089
The glowworm lays yet another snare - straight out of its mouth
Arachnocampa luminosa Dunedin Leith Valley Malpighian tubules New Zealand New Zealand glowworm Nichols Creek Nichols Falls Track bioluminescent organ case fungus gnat glow worm glowworm glowworms intestines larva mucus mucus droplet nest silk thread snare titiwai Glow worms 095