It dawned on me today that while you often hear of glow worms, I have never actually seen one and I have no idea where to start looking.

What kind of habitats to glow worms live in? Where would be a place that it might be possible to see them?

I've never been concious of seeing a glow worm myself either. I do know that they're really only nocturnal, coming out around dusk time
They're also attracted to light like alot of insects.

You might have seen them without noticing. The common glow worm is found all over the country, in heaths and grasslands. They are also attracted to bright lights so you might have had one or two in your home.

The lesser glow worm is very rare and only found in a few places, mainly in the South if I remember rightly.

Xeract I found this this morning

Where to see glow worms in the UK
Glow worms are nature’s nightlights and are at their best in July. Ilam Park in Derbyshire and Arnside Knott in Cumbria are two great spots for this incredible beetle.

Join an organised glow worm walk

Or you can join an organised walk like the one happening at Fontmell and Melbury Down in Dorset on Saturday 14 July 2007 at 9.30pm. Admission £5.00 adults, £1 children. Call 01672 539167 to book.

A glow worm walk sounds like a lot of fun, I'm going to se if there's one around where I live.

This post was last modified: 13-06-2007 02:13 PM by Bill.

When I was a child I saw glow worms regularly and I knew it was usually somewhen in the summer, so as you say,it must have been July. I lived on Leith Hill then and walking up the valley in the evening you often spotted them. Strangely in the day they look like rather boring grubs. Going on a glow worm walk sounds lovely, I might see if I can find one.

It is interesting how they look so boring in the day but then so amazing at night, a real contrast.

Another question I have about them is why do they glow at night? Is it to attract a mate?

That's always the most likely explanation. Male glow worms have the ability to fly (although apparenty they don't like to), but the females do not. So, if the male and female both glow, the male can find the female more easily. It seems that glow worm colonies in the UK have been in the same spots essentially for hundreds of years.

They can be found in places where small snails are found, as that's apparently the preferred food.

Kingfisher

That's amazing that with all the changes to the UK countryside the glow worms have managed to stay in the same place and thrive.