Waitomo Glowworm Caves
For over one hundred years, millions of tourists have flocked to the ancient limestone Waitomo Caves on New Zealand’s North Island, where stunning species of fungus gnat called Arachnocampa luminosa live. The genus is unique to New Zealand and Australia, and they are found in caves, grottoes, and other sheltered places. Arachnocampa means ‘spider-worm,’ as the gnat is known for the way their larvae hang strong vertical silk threads from the ceilings of their underground habitats. The threads are from one to fifty centimetres long and are studded with evenly spaced drops of sticky mucus, acting like fishing lines to lure in prey. Since the larvae are luminescent, the thousands of tiny threads light up cave ceilings like a starry sky. Other insects are attracted to the light and fly up—but then become ensnared in the sticky mucus, which contains proteins that researchers think may act as an anaesthetic. The larvae live this way for many months, trapping and devouring their prey, before becoming a shot-lived adult gnat.
I like wearing oversized sweaters. Not because they’re extremely comfy and cuddly, but because whenever the sleeves are really big, I get to flop them around and smack people.
One hell of a day,
didn’t snooze my alarm = being ten minutes to work —> walking through spiderwebs and jamming fingers in cabinet drawers —> blood all over personnel files = embarrassing + tired as hell = falling asleep in class —> a huge migraine = hating life/professors/everyone else in class with me who decides to participate/the person who tried to run me over while i was crossing the street….
but it’s okay…
american horror story in five minutes. everything is now better.
schools have stairs so you can throw yourselves down them
romney tryna tell me how to run the white house
he can’t even get in
