NEWZEALANDへの旅

　　　　　4日目：2010年3月14（日）　●Waitomo Glowworm Cave & Ruakuri Cave ワイトモ/鍾乳洞＆ツチボタル●

3月11日へ戻る
 3月12日へ戻る
 3月13日へ戻る
 3月15日へ進む
 3月16日へ進む
 3月17日へ進む
 3月18日へ進む

7:10　ホテルチェックアウト

7:45　タクシー乗車

8:12　ワイトモ～ロトルア行きのバス乗車

　　　

　　　道の右にも左にも牧場がたくさんある　　

9:06　モーニングティ休憩

　　　

　　　NZには、後ろに何かを牽引している車がとても多い　　

9:30　出発　

　　　ブドウ畑　

　　　線路　

　　　ガソリン　レギュラー1L=180.9NZ＄　

　　牛　

　　　馬　

　　羊　

　　　トウモロコシ畑　

11:00　ワイトモ　鍾乳洞＆ツチボタル

　　　　

　　　ここでガイドさんを待つ　

　　　鍾乳洞へ向かう　

　　　鍾乳洞の中はカメラの撮影禁止

ここから下の情報と写真は、●http://www.waitomo.com/●からの転載

　　　

【参考】http://www.waitomo.com/

Waitomo Glowworm Cave & Ruakuri Cave Combo

Deep underground in the heart of the Waikato are a series of unique caves that will take your breath away. Ruakuri Cave is home to swirling rivers, echoing waterfalls, and rocks that flow into delicate shawl-like formations.

Nearby, at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, thousands of tiny glowworms cling to the cave ceiling, creating a starry sky within the underground night. Youll also see a deep limestone shaft and a soaring subterranean cathedral that will leave you speechless. If you're looking for a world class experience, take advantage of our Two Cave Combo and visit both caves for just $76.50!

Note: online bookings need to be made at least 48 hours prior to your arrival at the caves

【参考】●http://www.waitomo.com/ruakuri-waitomo-combo.aspx●

Glowworm Lifecycle

Eggs-Larva-Pupa-Adult

The lifecycle of a Glowworm is in four stages and takes about 11 months. Eggs are laid in clutches of 30-40 on walls and ceilings. Immediately on hatching from the egg, the larvae emit a light, build a nest, put down lines and feed.

Sticky substances on the lines trap insects and these are drawn up and devoured. The larvae stage is the longest phase in the creature's life and lasts around nine months. It then turns into a pupa in a cocoon and emerges as a two winged flying insect, which looks like a large mosquito. The adult fly lives no longer than a few days as it has no digestive system and so cannot eat. Instead it uses this time to mate and lay eggs. The glowworms found in the Waitomo Glowworm Caves is a species unique to New Zealand.

○EGGS

The female fly lays around 120 small spherical eggs. Within around 20 days the young larvae hatch from the eggs and crawl away

○LARVA

Glowworms sticky feeding lines After hatching the young larvae build a nest, put down lines and feed. Sticky substances on the feeding lines trap insects and these are drawn up and devoured. Even at this small size, less than 3 millimetres long , they emit a strong visible light and slowly grow over 9 months to the shape and size of a matchstick.

○PUPA

The pupa is the same as the cocoon stage in the butterfly lifecycle; it is the stage between the larva and the adult fly. This will last about 13 days with the pupa suspended by a thread from the ceiling.

○ADULT

The adult glowworm looks like a large mosquito. They have no mouth and their only function is to reproduce and disperse the species. Usually a male is waiting for the female to emerge from the pupa, mating takes place immediately and the cycle continues. Adult glowworms live no longer than a few days.

【参考】●http://www.waitomo.com/glow-worm-lifecycle.aspx●