![]() The enzyme luciferase (named after Lucifer, the “bearer of light”) acts to speed up the reaction. Glowing (bioluminescence) is caused when a molecule called luciferin is oxidized by adenosine triphosphate (ATP – the energy molecule), to produce oxyluciferin in specialized organs in the abdomen. As adults, their diet varies some feed on plant pollen or nectar, whereas others are predatory, or do not eat at all. Some have grooved mandibles that ooze digestive fluids onto their prey to digest them from the outside. As larvae, they feed on snails, slugs, worms and other insects. Glow worms are one of the very few insects that live inside the Arctic Circle. ![]() In drier regions, they are found around wet or damp areas that retain moisture. Fireflies are attracted to moisture, and often live in humid regions of Asia and the Americas. Glow worms live across the world in a variety of warm environments, as well as in more temperate areas. Typical habitats include grasslands, hedges, railway embankments, wetlands, and cliffs. Some live in drier environments, but they are then found in localized areas that retain moisture.
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February 2023
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