This is the mysterious spectacle of bioluminescence. Its hard not to revel in the beauty of this remarkable natural phenomenon. These glowing creatures are primarily a product of the ocean. They are the primary source of light in the largest and darkest area of habitable land on Earth, the deep sea. On land, they are most commonly seen as glowing fungus on wood (foxfire) or in the few families of luminous insects (fireflies).
The glow worm (Arachnocampa luminosa), is unique to New Zealand. Thousands of these tiny creatures radiate their incredible blue luminescent light throughout the caves.
The cave glow worm is no worm at all. It’s a fungus gnat larva — predatory, and, if the going gets rough, cannabalistic. The handful of species are found only in New Zealand and in eastern Australia. A newly hatched larva measures just a few millimeters long, but it soon sets about spinning a series of sticky fishing lines it suspends from the cave ceiling.