Peruvian glow worm - Best to steer clear from the Peruvian forest if you spot any glowing lights in the soil. Such light has come from worms identified as the Peruvian glow worm whose method of attack greatly resembles that of the monster worms in the famous 1990 film, "Tremors."
Fear not for your feet or your life for the Peruvian glow worms' victims are that of the small kind. The glow worm found in the soil in Peru have been identified as the larvae of beetle species. The Peruvian glow worm emits a green light that attracts ants or termites.
Aaron Pomerantz, an entomologist working for a company close to the Tambopata Research Center in Peru, claims that the worm devours insects or termites that fly right into its jaw. The Peruvian glow worm is measured at around 1.2 centimeters.
"They're underground, and they burst from the earth," shares Pomerantz in a report by Discovery.
According to extensive research done on the Peruvian glow worm, these have been linked to species of the click beetle. Such beetles have gained the name for their "clicking" motion when trying to escape from their predators. Click beetles are reportedly bioluminescent, capable of emitting light, and there are over 10,000 species of such.
The Peruvian glow worm could be one out of the 10,000 species of Click beetles. In addition, the glow worm could be relatives to another group of bioluminescent beetles called Brazilian fire beetles or the Pyrophorini.
Researchers in Brazil continue to study the origin of the Peruvian glow worm. For those who would want to check out the bioluminescent worms lighting up the Peruvian forest, head on out the jungle of Peru. Be warned though that aside from the "Tremor" like glow worms, there are other bigger insects and worms to watch out for in the exotic forest of Peru.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
