From January 29th, we will be changing the way we display glowworms.

Updated February 16, 2026: Starting February 21st (Saturday), the exhibition will also be open on weekends and public holidays.

Due to a decline in the number of glowworms being kept in captivity, the way they are displayed in the Glowworm Cave on the first floor of Tama Zoo Insectarium Center will be changed from Thursday, January 29, 2026.

background

Tama Zoo introduced specimens from Australia in 1987 to coincide with the opening of Insectarium in April 1988, and has maintained these specimens for 38 years, establishing a breeding method for each successive generation. However, from around 2023, problems began to appear, including the death of larvae for unknown reasons, incomplete emergence of adults, and a decline in egg hatching rates, and the number of specimens being kept gradually decreased.

Going forward, we plan to scale down the exhibits to prioritize breeding and work towards restoring the captive population.

Exhibit after changes

Before the change, the exhibits were displayed in a walk-through format in the "Exhibition Room (Gray Area)," which was modeled after a dark cave, and in "Anteroom B (Red Area)," where visitors could view the exhibits through glass windows. After the change, the "Exhibition Room" will be closed and the exhibits will be displayed only in "Anteroom B." Access to the exhibits will also be changed, with "Anteroom A" closed and only entrance and exit from "Anteroom B."

In the "Exhibition Room," you can see the glow worms emitting light, but depending on the light intensity in "Anteroom B" and the physical condition of the individual glow worms, you may not be able to see the fantastic bluish-white light they emit.

Exhibition Hours

Weekdays 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Date of change of display method

Change date: Thursday, January 29, 2026

(January 15, 2026)