glowworm

Everyday

1. A glowworm is a kind of beetle whose females, which look like soft grubs without wings, give off a green light from their tails at night. tree →
2. In New Zealand and Australia, glowworms are the tiny larvae of a gnat that hang in caves and glow blue, like stars. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons about animals that make light (bioluminescence) and in night-time stories. Waitomo caves in New Zealand are famous for them. Phrases: «glowworm caves», «glowing like a glowworm».

Examples

• The glowworm shone in the grass at night. tree →
• In New Zealand we saw glowworms in a cave. tree →
• Glowworms make light inside their bodies. tree →
• The cave roof looked like a sky full of stars because of the glowworms. tree →
• Female glowworms glow to attract males. tree →
• We walked quietly so we didn't disturb the glowworms. tree →
• A glowworm is not really a worm. tree →
• Fireflies and glowworms are related beetles. tree →
• “Dear little Glowworm, will you set me free?” tree →

Note

One word or with a hyphen: glowworm, glow-worm. Trap: a glowworm is not a worm but an insect larva or beetle. Their light makes almost no heat.