“Caves and worms”, one seems gloomy and the other seems disgusting. In sum, both of them are not interesting to me at all. But who thought these two can create a place which seems like it came from a fairy tale? Today we are going to explore the glow worm cave in New Zealand, which is a cave full of worms. Now you may wonder what is the specialty of a cave full of scummy worms. Let’s have a look at the article to figure out what this unique place’s secret is.
New Zealand has always been known for its spectacular scenery. This beautiful Island is gifted with waterfalls flowing like a veil of a bride, shores with foamy waves, and volcanic black sand. Moreover, there are green valleys that seem like they came out of the free brushstrokes of an artist. While there is a beautiful fairytale knitting on the ground there is a heaven that has formed underground in New Zealand. And they are called “Glow Worm Caves.”
Location of Glow Worm Cave Waitomo
There are many glow-worm caves in New Zealand. But Glow worm caves in Waitomo grab the most attention. The Waitomo glowworm caverns are located in the Northern King Country region of New Zealand’s North Island. In other words, this place is two hours away from Auckland and one hour away from the South of Hamilton. The largest cave of Waitomo Caves is Ruakuri. This cave has discovered 400-500 years ago.
Glowworm caves
When entering the cave, firstly you have to walk by a manmade spiral entrance which brings you down to the bottom of the cave. After entering through the metal door there is a rock continuously dripping with splattering water. The ancient Maori people say that you have to cleanse your hands here before entering. It will drain off the negative energy that you hold. Then you have to move through a cylindrical passageway to see where the magic lies. The stunning vista you’ve been waiting for can be found on the cave’s ceiling.
There are stars shining in the cave creating a magical and phenomenal light show. It feels like we are looking at the star-studded night sky while standing in the cave. This jaw-dropping scenario can make us feel like we are in a fairytale. Now, there is a question. How can stars light up in a cave?
The secret behind stars
Actually, they are not stars that are shimmering but worms. There is a creature that is unique to New Zealand and is called “The Glow Worm”. These little magical creatures radiate blue and green light and draw a sensational view on the ceiling of the cave. This is indeed a masterpiece of mother nature that can hypnotize you.
But The Glow Worm is not actually a worm itself. It is a larva of a fungus gnat which is also called 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢 𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘢. This glow worm produces a web made out of sticky silk threads which helps glow worms hunt their prey. Small insects attract to the light of glow worms, they fly towards the light and stick through the treads which the glow-worm produces. The glow-worm alters the insect by vibrating the thread and then it pulls the thread by its mouth. Finally, it kills the insect and eats it.
These glowworms pass several stages when going through their life cycle. Firstly, the glow worm eggs hatch into worms. Secondly, they turn to pupas. When the pupa hatches they transform into maggots.
glow worm
How do they light up?
Are you wondering how this amazing creature gets the ability to glimmer like a star? Actually, that is a mechanism called bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is a series of chemical reactions that happens in the body of these creatures. They must contain “luciferin”, which is a molecule that produces light when in contact with oxygen.
Lots of creatures who are glowing in the dark emit light through this chemical process. For instance Anglerfish, Jellyfish/water jelly (Aequorea victoria), Squid, bobtail squid (Euprymna berryi), Lanternfish, and Firefly uses bioluminescence. Glowworms use this technique to attract a mate and prey. Moreover, they use their light to communicate with each other.
Films and movies inspired by glow worm caves.
This wondrous place has gained not only the attraction of the tourists but also the filmmakers. Several movies have been inspired by these glow-worm caves. For instance, movies such as Avatar, Hobbiton, and How to train your dragon have landscapes similar to this stunning place.
movie scenes inspired my glow worm caves
It is not only the glow worms that enhance the beauty of the cave. There are limestone formations that have taken thousands of years to form. There are crystal tapestries that look like the wings of dragons. The cave contains walls as smooth as sheets. And at the bottom of the cave, there is a stream of fresh water which facilitates the bio organism inside the cave.
In conclusion, The Glow Worm cave of Waitomo is truly a mesmerizing place that is worth a visit. Do not miss this enchanting beauty if you are ever visiting New Zealand.
