Glow worms at Wyld Wood

The glow worm is rare to see in the UK today and so we were very excited to see some glow worms luminously glowing in our forest glade this July. Perched on top of a mossy tree stump, the flightless female lit herself up like an ethereal green lamp to attract a male that could be flying past.

The glow worm is really a small beetle that lives as a larvae for three years feeding on snails of which there are plenty on the forest floor.

When they mature into adults they cease feeding and put all their efforts into mating with the female lighting up to attract the males that look more like beetles and can fly.

I do hope she found a mate because we only saw one each evening over several weeks and the only thing we can do to help is to leave the area as undisturbed as possible during the next season.