GLOW WORMS. This appears to be a good year for them, if Cockaynes Reserve is anything to go by. Last Sunday night Val, Lucy and I did a survey and found 46 glowing females (including two mating pairs). Mostly they were along the railway track side of the entrance road and yard / public path to railway crossing. There were also some in Villa Wood below the nissen hut but we will need to do a further survey to discover how far they have colonised this part of the site. The first pictures are of a mating pair and show the difference in size between male and female. The female does not fly and uses it’s glowing lower abdomen to emit a bright green light to attract the flying males. Once mated, the female stops glowing and goes away to lay her eggs before perishing in a week or so.
We will be doing a 2nd survey on Friday evening (15th July) if anyone wishes to join us. Meet at the entrance gate 9.45pm and will last up to about 11.30 (weather permitting). Suggest a torch and possibly mosquito repellant.
Roger.
About this website
This is the website for the Cockaynes Wood public access wildlife site between Wivehoe and Alresford in Essex. The website is managed by Cockaynes Wood Trust.
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