Even in protected areas, which can successfully act as a buffer to expanding urbanisation and deforestation, the effects of light pollution are tangible. Eventually ALAN may affect entire ecosystems.

ALAN mostly affects nocturnal species, however, diurnal species and even plants can also be affected. In total, the development of the Glow-worm takes 3 years, during which time the caterpillar changes skin multiple times, until finally evolving into a mature specimen.Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a globally occurring threat to wildlife, which has emerged relatively recently with the expansion of human industrialisation and is currently still increasing worldwide by 6% every year. The caterpillars also emit light and the reason for this is unknown. The female lays 1-2 eggs in the soil and caterpillars hatch in 2-4 weeks. The males have extremely sensitive eyes and they notice the glow from up to 10 meter distance, they fly to the female and soon start mating. Females hide in the soil during the day and come out in the evening, attracting males with their glow. This time is spent finding a partner and laying eggs.

Sexually mature Glow-worms live only a few days. When fully mature, Glow-worms lack any feeding organs and after copulating, they simply die, after having used up all the energy stored, while in the caterpillar phase. The caterpillars are equipped with strong jaws, as well as special enzymes, that transform the victim’s body into a liquid mass which the caterpillar can later consume, very much like spiders do. The caterpillars, however, are very aggressive and voracious, attacking snails of various species. It’s interesting that mature Glow-worms don’t feed. For comparison – the first light bulbs that were invented transformed three percent of the energy supplied into light (the rest was transformed into heat), while Glow-worms transform 98% of the energy into light.

The whole process is incredibly effective and Glow-worms produce an amazing amount of light for the materials used. The Glow-worm can control the intensity or stop emitting the light completely by controlling the oxygen feed to the organ. The light is emitted in special organs, as a result of a chemical reaction, combining oxygen, water and a special substance called luciferine. Glow-worm caterpillars are highly predatorous and very active

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