This 30 million years old cave in New Zealand looks like it has been decorated with hundreds of blue fairy lights and you will not believe what it actually is. The underground limestone cave located in the North Island in New Zealand was photographed by Joseph Michael. The Auckland based photographer remained in the frosty underground environment of the cave to completely explore its sparkling nature.
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The twinkling lights in the dark interior of the cave are actually colonies of arachnocampa luminosa, commonly referred to as the glow worms.
Image: Joe Michael
Image: Joe Michael
The glow worm specie is only found in eastern Australia apart from New Zealand. They exist in smaller colonies and emit faint lights.
Image: Joe Michael
Image: Joe Michael
Glow warms are basically the larvae of the fungus gnat, a type of fly that resembles a mosquito, that have the capability of making their own light hence making them bioluminescent.
Image: Joe Michael
Image: Joe Michael
The first part of the species’ name, arachnocampa, means “spider worm”, and refers to the web of silk threads the worms use to hunt their prey. The worms’ glowing light helps them attract other insects to feast on.
Image: Joe Michael
Image: Joe Michael
The bioluminescent insects are active at night and tend to switch off their lights if disturbed by any other light source such as, torchlights. However, the glow remains in only the larvae phase and diminishes as soon as the larvae changes into adult flies.
Image: Joe Michael
Image: Joe Michael
As gross as the phenomenon might sound in words, the view of the fluorescent cave will completely change your perception about larvae and flies.
Image: Joe Michael
Image: Joe Michael
Many observers have described the experience of visiting the glow worms at night as similar to being under the stars on a clear night.
Image: Joe Michael
Image: Joe Michael
References: Business Insider, Science Alert