Note the large mandibles. Natural Bridge at Springbrook National Park has a spectacular colony of glow worms in a cavern behind the waterfall. Many thousands of visitors view the display every year. National Parks wishes to know more about the biology of these insects to ensure they are not placed at risk. A glow worm adult near the empty pupal case from which it emerged.
Adults are short lived.
They mate immediately after emerging from the pupa. The females then lay eggs. It is very difficult to find adults in the wild. Time exposure photography is used to estimate glow worm numbers at weekly intervals at Natural Bridge. Here, a 5 minute time exposure shows the glow worms, and a flash exposure shows the crevices in the cave roof.