THE GLOW-WORM'S LAMP.
Though not so common as it used to be, the curious little glow-worm may often be seen in shady bush haunts, and in dim caves. We all know that this little insect carries a lantern at its tail end; because of this the Greeks of old called it the Bright-tailed. The glow-worm is not a worm, nor does it look like one It is a soft, wingless beetle. Only the unattractive female bears a sparkling light, which serves as a guide for her mate during his nocturnal flights. That an insect could produce any luminescence is wonderful, but this light is of such a marvellous nature that man cannot produce anything to equal it. Wo term the glow-worm's light a " cold light," because, unlike any man-made light or sunlight, it produces light without any heat. All tho energy is used to produce light, and so the little glowworm wastes nothing. When we recolloct that the most economic electric lamp wastes over five-sixths of its energy in producing unrequired heat, we see how wonderful is the tiny glow-worm's lamp. More interesting still Is the fact that tho glow-worm can control its light at will! When in danger it will naturally turn out its lamp, and so become less conspicuous.
Three bands and two spots beneath the tail emit the bright, white light, delicately tinged with blue or pale green. The flying male beetle also emits a light, but it is very faint when compared with that of his mate. ITis lamp consists of two spots on the last segment of his body. llow does the glow-worm light its lamp ? The spots and lines of (lie " lamp" contain a wonderful substance, which, when combined with the oxygen (from the air), burns with a bright light. This is what we term " oxyriisatiou." An insect has a system of air tubes in place of our blood vessels, and by regulating the flow of air into the lamp the glow-worm can turn its light in and out.
Do not destroy glow-worms under any condition. Thcv aro most, useful insects, for they devour many snails.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20868, 9 May 1931, Page 4 (Supplement)
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352THE GLOW-WORM'S LAMP. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20868, 9 May 1931, Page 4 (Supplement)
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