THE GLOW WORM 
31 
they hatch, unless destroyed by the trampling of 
other living creatures. Each egg is like a small 
pea with a lid on top of it. In nine or ten days 
a young Stick Insect emerges from under the lid, 
and is much more active than the full-grown insect. 
the NEW ZEALAND GLOW WORM 
DESCRIPTION—It is not a worm but a grub 
which comes from one of the eggs of a two-winged 
fly. Each grub weaves a little web of a slimy, 
sticky, thread-like substance which comes out of 
its mouth. The grub rests on its web, which is 
usually suspended from a rock. It has an “organ 
at the end of its body which gives out a bright 
light. It can light its “lamp” or extinguish it 
whenever it chooses. 
HABITS—The slightest noise or other disturb¬ 
ance causes it to stop the glow and glide into a 
hole near the edge of its web. \ isitors to the 
glow-worm cave at Waitomo are conveyed in a 
boat which is moved by means of an overhead rope 
in order to minimise the sound, and visitors are 
previously warned not to talk or make any noise. 
The roof of the cave is almost covered with webs 
containing the shining grubs. They are numerous 
in other places in New Zealand, e.g., the Otira 
Gorge and on the walls of one of the warm baths 
at Okoroire. 
CYCLE—The grub changes to dark-coloured 
pupa, which also has a “lamp,” but somewhat 
dimmer than that of the grub. The two-winged 
insect which emerges from the “shell” of the pupa 
c 
