Tiaki Titiwai | Glowworms

Titiwai have cultural and ecological significance

Presence of titiwai indicates healthy and humid ecosystems

Tiaki titiwai | glowworms

Titiwai have a fundamental place in Māori cosmogeny 'Te maramatanga namunamu ki taiao'. This was the dim, feeble glimmer emanating from Moko-huruhuru, or Hine-huruhuru, the glowworm and the very first phase of light known.

Titiwai (NZ Glowworms - Arachnocampa luminosa), iconic invertebrate larvae, are best known in tourist caves but are well known in damp dense bush throughout the Auckland region. However, there is little knowledge about the dynamics of specific populations and how they are impacted by habitat change, predators and drought.

Associated with sheltered, shady stream banks, several established populations in the Eskdale Reserve Network were severely disrupted by extensive track modification and floods causing riparian erosion.

This project provides an opportunity to study not only healthy populations in the Eskdale Reserve Network but also to establish ongoing monitoring of disrupted sites to understand how they recover naturally, and how we might accelerate this process by habitat restoration.

Join our Titiwai Evening Walks

Survey efforts and discoveries

Working in Eskdale Reserve Network since 1998, we respond to the messages the forests and streams convey. This has led to remarkable discoveries about the life cycles of titiwai.

Using modern technology such as timelapse photography and video, we have uncovered subtle details of titiwai behaviour previously unrecorded. These include predatory interactions among titiwai larvae, such as theft, physical aggression and cannibalism.

Through our community regeneration project at Waipapa Stream, Parnell, we have also offered the unique opportunity to explore the Auckland Domain, embarking on a journey to discover the hidden jewels of nature - titiwai.

By bringing their lifecycle more into community focus, this awareness also encourages community engagement around the protection of their habitat.

Titiwai monitoring work

Increasingly, tertiary students, interns and volunteers join sessions to enrich their knowledge with fieldwork and learn the practical side of environmental conservation.

Conduct surveys to monitor glowworm populations.
Record data on glowworm distribution, habitat conditions, and potential threats.
Engage volunteers in citizen science projects to assist with data collection and analysis.

Support this work to protect Titiwai

As part of our Titiwai monitoring programme, we collect data and create educational videos, such as this one, to share our findings.

Your support helps us continue and grow this important work!

There are so many ways you can get involved:

VOLUNTEER to assist in the regeneration of forest habitats.
Join a local pest trapping group to help reduce the numbers of introduced predators.
Join the titiwai night walk and learn more about them.
DONATE or SPONSOR to support awesome initiatives like Titiwai!