Tuesday, August 14, 2007

As above, so below...

The clouds moved in the last couple of nights, so no Perseids for us. However, the glow worms did their best.

Not ideal subjects for photography, though at least they keep still - they've been in the same place for several nights now, the antithesis of shooting stars really, while still being ephemeral little things with fiery tails.

The one below has been 'quick-fixed' (using Corel, often handy but has also been known to turn orange marigolds bright yellow with cobalt blue centres...), which glamourises her somewhat!

9 comments:

leslee said...

What the heck are glow worms?? I've never heard of them (nor seen them, for that matter). I'd have loved to see the Perseids, but I've been valuing my sleep too much lately, currently sans insomnia.

meggie said...

I have been in Glow worm caves, in New Zealand's North & South Islands, & it seems a little magical.

Lucy said...

Thank you both!
Glow worms are really a kind of beetle, and it's the female, who can't fly, who glows to attract the male, who can. There's more on them at http://www.galaxypix.com/glowworms/ ,the pictures in the gallery bit are good!

robinstarfish said...

Although I've never seen a glow worm, I've come upon a field of fireflies that was like looking down at the stars.

Did you know that phosphorescent insects are nearly 100% efficient in turning energy into light? The best we can do is about 60% with our awful fluorescent tubes.

Fire Bird said...

Never seen one of these either! Amazing

Granny J said...

Interesting. Don't know if there are glow worms in the States or not; I did see them once in the NZ caves. Quite a sight.

apprentice said...

lovely they're wee consellation or galaxies all of their own.

Anonymous said...

WOW!
have never seen one of these
z

Lucy said...

The conclusion seems to be they are only to be found in Europe and Australia/ New Zealand.

We never made it to the glow-worm caves in NZ. There are only ever a couple at a time in our garden, but some of the pictures on the Glow Worm Survey sight showed quite large nombers, which do look like little starscapes!
Starfish, your fireflies sound marvellous, I read about the insects' phosphorescent efficiency while I was trying to find out more about them.