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Tennessee Park Home to Unique Glow Worm Species

Posted by: Jarod Word on Jul 15, 2025

A recent article in National Geographic profiles a glow worm only found in the Appalachian region. Orfelia fultoni, the larval form of a fungus gnat, produce the bluest bioluminescence of any known insect on Earth and can be found in East Tennessee. Pickett CCC Memorial Park in Jamestown hosts a thriving population and sometimes offers hikes for visitors to appreciate the unique spectacle. Pickett ranger Michael Hodge, who leads many of those hikes and hosts monthly stargazing programs, says park visitors are often stunned by the show of nature. “You’ll hear gasps. You’ll hear people cheering,” according to Hodge. “It’s not on YouTube; it’s real. I think, on some level, people have those reactions because they experience a sudden awareness that there are still things out there for them to discover.”