Photographer Shaun Jeffers traveled to the Waitomo area to capture its limestone caves, which are illuminated by glowworms. The alien-like critters emit a phosphorescent turquoise light.
They are the predatory maggots of a fungus gnat and the strands are made of a (in some species) poisonous mucus.
When moths, mosquitoes or other tiny insects enter the cave they will normally look for the sunlight or moonlight of the cave entrance to escape, but the collective glow of the maggots fools them into thinking they’re already outside. They’re basically imitating a sky together!
These guys are amazing to see in real life, it’s cold and damp but beautiful. Plus, who would have thought that warm orange juice would actually be good.
