The Woodland Trust and Woodland Trust Nature Detectives logos are registered trademarks. Images © protected Woodland Trust. VAT No. GB520 6111 04.
Glow-Worm Hunt, Hambledon Hill
To the north of Blandford is the Hambledon Hill National Nature Reserve (ST 845 125). Managed by English Nature, this 192m high chalk hill is a prominent feature its summit sculpted with concentric banks and ditches the remains of an Iron Age hillfort. Near its highest point a Neolithic long barrow, some 5000 years old. The sketch to the right shows the present day arrangement of the two major banks that with ditch between made up the main defences of the hillfort.
The chalk slopes of the hill are ideal for Glow-Worms. Glow-Worms (Lampyris noctiluca) are not worms, they are actually insects. All stages of this beetle give out light, but it is brightest in the adult female when she is attracting a mate. The light is produced by a chemical reaction and can be switched on and off at will. Although only small (about 23mm) the little bead of blue-ish green light can be seen from many tens of metres in dark conditions.
This gallery shows a field trip in late July led by the English Nature site manager, on which some 75 people in age from 1 to 60+ yrs old up the hill from Child Okeford (ST 836 126) to watch the sun set and then ‘hunt’ for the beetle. The warm, still conditions of the evening were particularly favourable, with glowing females seen over large areas of the hill.
To view any image full size – simply click on the thumbnail
The UK Glow worm survey home page: site maintained by Robin Scagell, containing background information about Lampyris noctiluca, pictures and numerous links.
English Nature: site giving an overview of the work and function of the organisation, with contact details for the Dorset Team.
The Coleopterist: journal for students of the beetle fauna of the British Isles, includes daylight images of male glow-worm and larva.
Dorset Wildlife Trust: site with details of field trips, events and talks at other nature reserves throughout the county.
UK Safari: Glow-worms – part of a much larger site covering UK wildlife with monthly guides to what is out and about across the country, includes request for sightings reports.
Maps of the area on streetmap.co.uk: 1:50,000 detail, 1:250,000 locality and route to get there
The pictures of Glow-Worm Hunt, Hambledon Hill in this gallery were captured at medium resolution.
This is images of dorset stock photography gallery 079
All photographs copyright © 19982003 John Allen
What do glow-worms look like?
Adults: can grow up to 25mm long. Females are larger than males and both have segmented bodies. The females have bioluminescence that produce the glow but males only emit a small amount of light. Males also have wings where females do not.
Larvae: are similar looking to females but have light spots on either side of each body segment.
What do glow-worms eat?
Glow worms do all their eating as larvae. They feed on slugs and snails by injecting their digestive juices into their prey and drinking the digested remains. Adults don’t even have mouthparts.
Credit: FLPA / Alamy Stock Photo
How do glow-worms breed?
Females use their bioluminescence to attract mates. Adults only live for a few weeks to breed and die soon after. Females can lay up to 100 eggs which are laid on the ground. The hatched larvae feed and grow for about two years before fully maturing.
Did you know?
Adults burrow under the soil during the day to avoid predators, then emerge at night to put on a light show.
