New Zealand's natural wonders span far and wide, with many sites to see. The Waitomo Glow-worm Cave is home to thousands of glow-worms that light up the cave ceiling like a starry night sky. This species of glow-worm, Arachnocampa luminosa, which is found exclusively in New Zealand, emits a blue-green glow that illuminates the underground cave river. Though, the glow-worms aren’t really glow-worms. They’re fly larvae. And what causes the glowing? Excretory organs. These insects produce a silk-like thread used to trap flies and other bugs for them to prey on. And the hungrier they are, the brighter they glow.
The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are located in the southern Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand