This is what a female glow worm looks like and as you can see from its size against the grass stem it is not very big, maybe two centimetres at a stretch. However, at night time all you will see is a spot of green light.
The group Estuaire is trying to study glow worms in France and if you have a garden in France your assistance is invaluable to them. They would like to find out where glow worms can be seen in France. Are they more common in city gardens or country gardens? Are they on the increase or decrease?
So have a look after dark in the garden and if you do see a glow worm let the association know http://www.asterella.eu/index.php?.
In addition, you can check out the summer skies and maybe even spot a shooting star. Late July and early August might give you an even higher chance.
In fact, glow worm hunting would be the ideal pastime for insomniacs, you just need to wait until it is really dark to start your hunt. Like all sports it has its dangers and unless doted with extra sensory perception it is best to have a torch at hand to avoid the odd rake or misplaced rockery.
Last year I was given a “Special Mission” by the Association, so you are warned that glow worm hunting can become addictive. I have other blogs and pictures of glow worms I have met but for more information check out the Association’s web site and good hunting!
I saw one here for the very first time in my life a couple of weeks ago, an amazing sight so I can understand your addiction. Happy hunting!
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It is amazing and well worth a trip to the garden in the dark. Amelia
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I came across a glow worm larva a month or so ago, Amelia. Had no idea what it was, but photographed it, identified it and reported the sighting. It was here in Surrey, though, so not much good to you! 😀
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I had never seen a glow worm in the U.K. Now you have your eye in you might be seeing more. Amelia
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I’ve never seen one, only heard about them in song.
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I know that song 🙂 Amelia
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If weather conditions are right we have magical displays in the woods here, but the last couple of years I have not seen more than one or two.
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I wonder if there are associations in Germany that are tracking the glow worms? Amelia
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I have not heard of any…
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I was just looking at the British glow worm site (which I have just discovered) and I noticed that there is a similar survey in Germany. It is http://www.lampyridae.lima-city.de/ just in case you are interested.
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Thank you. I have realised though now from reading other comments that we are probably seeing fireflies as they fly. We have seen them on the ground too. I must look into this! None in our garden this season though.
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I’ve never seen one but we have fireflies here that sound very similar, except that they fly.
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I’d really like to see fireflies, flying glowing lights are more exciting. Amelia
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Wonderful to have such a quest!
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It is satisfying for me to be a tiny cog in a big operation. Amelia
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Amazing! I’ve seen trees lit up with fireflies in Borneo, that was magical. Have never seen a glow worm though.
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I don’t think glow worms are common in the U.K. Amelia
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I have seen glow worms in NZ http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/glow-worms/page-1
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Are there associations in NZ that are monitoring the glow worms too? Amelia
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Not that I know of, but the glow worms in Waitomo are closely monitored. http://www.nzscienceteacher.co.nz/learning-in-science/authentic-science-education/using-science-to-care-for-our-caves/#.V3z1TlR95dg
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Wow! They really love their glow worms! I’d love to see those caves. Amelia
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They are beautiful.
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I notice that your glow worms are different insects from those in the Northern Hemisphere but I suppose that is to be expected.
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Never seen one, but would like to!
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I have never seen one in the U.K. but the U.K. has a survey too http://www.glowworms.org.uk/ and does walks! Maybe you could find a convenient one near you. Amelia
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Never seen one and I would not have recognised one were it not for the opening picture. Thanks.
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You are unlikely to notice one unless you look after night fall for the pin prick of green glow. Stray light from housing or street lights makes finding them more difficult. Amelia
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Thanks for the timely reminder about GW’s and the link to the UK site…I’ve never seen one, but perhaps still time to have a look this year,
BW
Julian
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Always worth having a check as I think it is a good time of the year for them but I would have imagined it might be a bit chilly for them in your area. Amelia
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Thanks Amelia, our neighbour reckoned he saw a single one years ago, so maybe I’ll still try! BW Julian
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Like you and others I’ve never seen a glow worm in the UK, only in ‘warm’ parts of Europe. And I’ve only ever seen fireflies in Italy. Do you get them? (If you have answered this in one of the many comments, sorry – missed it)
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I have never seen fireflies here but you can get them in the warmer, southern regions of France. I don’t usually travel in the summer time, keeping to the garden and the sea, so I have never seen fireflies. I would love to see fireflies. Amelia
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We have just seen 3 in a short walk at Euronat (just north of Montalivet, Gironde). Didn’t see any last year. Hoping this will be a good season for them in 2017. Alec B
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We saw our first in the garden a while ago but this year has been very dry with less snails. Less snails may make it more difficult for them to breed this year. Amelia
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Have seen a glow worm for two consecutive evenings here in Poitou Charente this week, a truly amazing sight. Gerd
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I had never seen glow worms before I came to live here. They are fascinating creatures and are a special feature of the summer here. Amelia
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We saw a glow worm n our garden last night for the first time. We didn’t identify it but it had two ‘lights’ one behind the other and was continuous. Will see if I can identify it tonight.
We live in Maine et Loire south of Doué la Fontaine.
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I wonder if you saw two? You could contact http://www.asterella.eu/index.php?pays=FRANCE. You could perhaps join in to add your observations to others being made throughout France. Amelia
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Amelia, the two main segments can be seen as separate lights if the tail-end of the abdomen is being held straight.
All the best, I am still reading…. but am unable to comment from my eyePad without a lot of pfaff, Tim
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Thank you for that, Tim. Amelia
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Just seen a glow worm in our garden in Cambes 47350, France. Very rural setting. Wonderful
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I get excited every year when I see them. Amelia
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Such a treat! A very special part of warm summer nights. Amelia
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Evening – first time in 9 years had one of your glow worms in the garden.
Saw fire Flies in Nepal 20 years ago.
South West France 82120. I’m told they like to eat snails x wet spring – so maybe that’s why.
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They make the evenings so special. It is actually the larval stage that eat the snails so no-one who wants to see glow worms in their gardens ever uses slug pellets as that poisons them :(. You are correct the wet weather and snails work in their favour. Amelia
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