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Citizen Scientists Scramble to Revive Vanishing Glow-worm Populations
7 Nov
Summary
- Glow-worm numbers in the UK have plummeted from 248 in 2017 to barely 50 in 2024
- Threats include habitat loss, light pollution, and climate change impacts on prey
- Volunteers and researchers are attempting glow-worm reintroduction and habitat restoration
In 2025, glow-worm enthusiasts across Europe are sounding the alarm as populations of the bioluminescent beetles continue to plummet. Once a common sight on summer nights, the glow-worms are now struggling to survive.
Volunteers in the UK have been monitoring glow-worm populations for nearly two decades, and their findings are dire. In 2017, they counted 248 glow-worms in the village of Westbury-sub-Mendip, Somerset. But by 2024, that number had dwindled to barely 50. Similar declines have been observed in France, Germany, and Spain.
Experts attribute the glow-worm's decline to a range of threats, including habitat loss, fragmentation, and light pollution. As female glow-worms cannot fly, they are particularly vulnerable to changes in their immediate environment. Even something as minor as a new ditch can devastate a local population.
