Have you seen glow worms?
| 15:28 UK time, Thursday, 17 June 2010
Guest blog: TV researcher Ruth blogs about glow worms.
The glow worm is the stuff of fairy tales. A magical being that has its place firmly in tales of witches, fairy princesses and dragons. Rightly so, for seeing them is a truly magical experience. But, of course, only at night.
In real life it's a beetle that looks a bit like an elongated woodlouse. In the day it's very hard to find. At night, however, the last few segments of the female's abdomen glows like an incredibly bright, green-yellow LED. The female can't fly, so uses light to lure the flying males to her. By being bright and prominent on the edge of the vegetation, she maximises her chances of being chosen. Once she is mated, out goes the light. Chris took Kate out on a date to see glow worms earlier this week, which we filmed for and you can see on tonight's Springwatch. We had such a wonderful evening, we would love to hear about your sightings and experiences too. So post a comment below.
Or, more importantly, help with science. Glow worms can be seen on almost any grassland type across much of mainland Britain. You can also spot them in moorland, heathland and open areas of woodland. They're most common in the south of England, including here in Norfolk. The Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service has started a survey to find glow worm hot spots in their county. Find out more and submit your sightings on their .
For those outside of Norfolk, Robin Scagell has been carrying out a national glow worm survey for a number of years. If you see any glow worms, please help his valuable work and report your sightings on his .
Get glowing!
Comment number 1.
At 17th Jun 2010, Tamarin wrote:Yes, I have been really lucky, I saw two glow worms at Durrell, Jersey Zoo last week and then one in my garden this week. I have been trying to encourage them into my garden, no pesticide or other chemicals hopefully will help
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Comment number 2.
At 17th Jun 2010, GrahamLP2 wrote:Have a look at the glow worm survey site of Robin Scagell here -
He can be seen on Youtube, talking about glow worms and light at night, at Reading University in 1993 -
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Comment number 3.
At 17th Jun 2010, glowworm558 wrote:I have not seen any yet this year - it's still quite early for glow worms- best period is from around now until late August. Wicken Fen, near Ely (NT) is a good place to see them. I saw 2 glowing females there last July. Also Fulbourn Fen (near Cambridge) and Lime Kiln Hill in Cherry Hinton Cambridge). In Norfolk a good place to see them is Syderstone Common near Fakenham (assume that's where this evening's footage was filmed as it's close to The Crown pub that was shown!). I was going to look for them there last Saturday evening but it turned out cold and wet- not good conditions for spotting glow worms.
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Comment number 4.
At 18th Jun 2010, Alison Keay wrote:Yes I have seen a gloworm in Leicestershire ages ago when out with
the Bat group but I cannot remember where..........
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Comment number 5.
At 18th Jun 2010, mammals wrote:I saw a few earlier this year. I think they were in Kensington Gardens.
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Comment number 6.
At 20th Jun 2010, bridges wrote:Hi yes I have seen glowworms I went out with sussex wildlife ranger one evening not far from where I live I was amazed never seen anythink like them before, I have also been told they are along the road from where I live which is near river adur so will be taking myself along there>
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Comment number 7.
At 20th Jun 2010, janet_brereton wrote:On the 19th June four glowworms were found in Holmans Wood Caravan Park, at 11.0p.m. Beautiful.
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Comment number 8.
At 21st Jun 2010, chublet wrote:Hi, guys about five years a go i and a few friends where on holiday on the Norfolk broads. We decided to spend the night on Rockland broad to do some night fishing. And to our amazement the whole bank was lit up like a christmas tree with glow worms it was quite a sight.
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Comment number 9.
At 21st Jun 2010, Ian156 wrote:I found one a few years ago, up an old bridle way and talked with a local school caretaker about it. According to him, they are in the Midford Valley, on the Wiltshire/Somerset border.
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Comment number 10.
At 24th Jun 2010, the longhairedgit wrote:Anyone know a good place for glow worms in gloucestershire? Gonna get a raynox dcr for my B'day, and together with the night shoot skills I hope to do some of these amazing animals some real night-light justice.
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Comment number 11.
At 24th Jun 2010, fluff wrote:I saw glow worms last year at and old closed down colliery in the southeast of Kent, there must of been at least 100 inside one of the ruined buildings.I hadn't ever seen them before and haven't since.
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Comment number 12.
At 25th Jun 2010, Tre wrote:Found three glow worms in Plymstock Plymouth, whilst out walking my dogs. They were in Raleigh Woods grassland.
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Comment number 13.
At 28th Jun 2010, Duncan wrote:We have one in our garden at the moment too. We'll be on the hunt for more in the coming nights!
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