Very Important.
Does anyone know why earthworms end up all over the pavement after it rains?
It's like pure suicide for them. Why? I really need to know, it's bugging me.
It's like pure suicide for them. Why? I really need to know, it's bugging me.
posted by anna at 11:23 AM
6 Comments:
Well, I need to do away with the myth that worms surface so that they wouldn't drown. But rather to find a mate, an "Earth-mate"(get it, like a "soul-mate"-ha,ha!) since their mobility is much better on wet ground. I also feel extremely compelled to share this "wealth of knowledge"....
The benefits of earthworms are well-known. They are tireless tillers of our soils and their castings are the richest and best of all fertilizers. It is would be impossible to ever have too many in our gardens, unless you don't want lush, healthy plants, or if you like to eat outside on the ground!
Earthworms need moist soil to survive. Our dry North Texas summers are lethal to many, especially those that happen to end up in the lawn areas that receive full exposure to the merciless summertime sun. It is no wonder that people have so many problems with their lawns - they are inhospitable to the creatures that do the most to benefit the soil, and without healthy soil you won't have healthy plants.
During periods of drought, the earthworms recede deeply into their burrows, which can be six feet deep. The mucous from their exterior helps to provide structure to their burrows so that they do not collapse. Cool, huh? Well, kinda nasty, but cool!
A few more facts about our subterranean allies...
- have been kept alive for 6 years, but in the wild probably live two years at the most;
- do not have lungs, breathe through their skin, and can live under water for a while;
- lack eyes but are light sensitive;
- can detect the motion of a robin;
- may survive being frozen if the freeze is not too rapid
Neato misquito! There you go Anna. Consider yourself intellectually satisfied. Anything else anyone? Have a great afternoon ya'all!
WOW! And they're really squishy when you step on them too.
Once we get a yard full of earthworms, what will we do with all the moles coming to eat them?
wow, that is all i ever wanted to know about earthworms! you can skip college with knowledge like that chris,
O.K. I can understand why they would come to the surface to find the worm or their dreams but WHY do they PERSIST in crawling on the pavement? They could stay on the dirt. Otherwise, they find each other just in time to die. We have well over 100 dead worms on our driveway here at work.
All dirt and no brains.
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