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Webster 1913 Edition

Glowworm

Glow′wormˊ

,
Noun.
(Zool.)
A coleopterous insect of the genus
Lampyris
; esp., the wingless females and larvæ of the two European species (
L. noctiluca
, and
L. splendidula
), which emit light from some of the abdominal segments.
Like a
glowworm
in the night,
The which hath fire in darkness, none in light.
Shakespeare
☞ The male is winged, and is supposed to be attracted by the light of the female. In America, the luminous larvæ of several species of fireflies and fire beetles are called glowworms. Both sexes of these are winged when mature. See
Firefly
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Glowworm

GLOWWORM

,
Noun.
The female of the Lampyris noctiluca, an insect of the order of Coleopters. It is without wings and resembles a caterpillar. It emits a shining green light from the extremity of the abdomen. The male is winged and flies about in the evening, when it is attracted by the light of the female.

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