They can then move out of the cover to fluoresce, often climbing up grass stems to show off their glowing abdomen. Glow-worms are often seen near pathways or near short grass which moves into longer grass, then scrub or hedgerow. Look for gradients of vegetation that go from low lying vegetation to tall vegetation. Search for previous glow-worm records on sites near you using the iNaturalist app, the NBN Atlas or your local environmental records office for a rough guide of where they’ve been spotted (or not!) in the past. Check the lunar cycle - a female glow-worm’s light display is entangled with the brightness of the moon, so as to not compete with the luminosity of a full moon, glow-worms are more likely to glow during crescent moons. Although more common in the south of England, glow worms are recorded around much of the UK.

Research your local habitats - though they favour chalky or limestone areas, glow-worms have been reported in gardens, hedgerows or railway embankments, but also on cliffs, woodland rides and heathland. Choose a still, warm night usually between June and mid-July.

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