Suicidal Worms

[hanuman1]

What's up with all these dead worms lying dried up in all the sois of our village? Has anyone else noticed this?

A couple of months ago I remarked to the missus how I'd hardly seen a single earthworm in our garden for years and all of a sudden over the last couple of weeks there's hundreds of them seemingly throwing themselves into the road to shrivel and die. I can hardly take the dog for a walk without stepping on one.

Doubtless it's something to do with the season but if any worm specialists know exactly what's going on I'd be mildly interested to find out.

Cheers.

Edited November 9, 2010 by hanuman1

[surayu]

Maybe the land is soaked with water and they all came up? what about using them as a bait for the fishes?

[Beetlejuice]

I have never seen an earthworm in Thailand, or am I missing something?

Are you sure these are earthworms and not slugs or some other kind of insect larva?

[ThaiWx]

We've got 'em popping up around here as well. I keep scooping them out of our mini garden pond and throwing them in the flower bed. I just figured because the rains have stopped and the ground is drying up that they're coming up in search of moisture. My guess.

[THAIJAMES]

I don't think it has anything to do with moisture as my garden is fully watered with sprinklers, but they are still coming out by the hundreds to what it looks is committing suicide.

We've got 'em popping up around here as well. I keep scooping them out of our mini garden pond and throwing them in the flower bed. I just figured because the rains have stopped and the ground is drying up that they're coming up in search of moisture. My guess.

[thaimiller]

I asked someone about this last week and was told that it happens if we have a mini-earthquake which apparently happened in chiang mai last week sometime. The worms feel the tremours in the ground and get out asap. Can only go on what I was told though, theres literally hundreds of dead worms on Tanawan when I take the dog.

[surayu]

I have never seen an earthworm in Thailand, or am I missing something?

Yes, you are missing them.

Usually there is pleanty of them after it rains, but doesn't look like if any of them is up for the extreme act, maybe because there are no tall buildings in the village? not sure

[sarahsbloke]

Same where I live in Doi Saket.

Loads on the driveway in the past week.

[MrBrad]

On the driveway every morning here too in Mae Rim.

[zzdocxx]

Maybe they are depressed?

[gotlost]

Maybe they are depressed?

Maybe just getting home from a great night out.

[Farma]

Wait until you see the giant earthworm i saw near Khon Kaen about 20 odd years ago. In the middle of the rainy season this thing was about 2 foot long and thicker than my thumb. I initially thought it was a snake. I saw a couple more in the weeks that followed.

[elektrified]

Walking the dog last night I couldn't go anywhere without stepping on worms - some alive and some dead. There were thousands of them everywhere.

[Blinky Bill]

Q. Where did our earthworms come from?

A. Experts believe most native species were wiped out wherever glaciers covered the land. Most earthworms we see today were imported mainly from Europe by early settlers. The worms or worm cocoons traveled in the rootstocks of plants brought by the settlers from their homelands. Europeans added soil, with its earthworms or worm cocoons, to ships for ballast. Once anchored in North American harbors, ships released their ballast -and living worms, who found new homes.

Q. What do earthworms eat?

A. Earthworms eat dirt! Their nutrition comes from things in soil, such as decaying roots and leaves. Animal manures are an important food source for earthworms. They eat living organisms such as nematodes, protozoans, rotifers, bacteria, fungi in soil. Worms will also feed on the decomposing remains of other animals.

Q. How do worms eat?

A. They don't have teeth but they have strong mouth muscles. Dew worms or nightcrawlers often surface at night to pull fallen leaves down into their burrow. When the leaf softens a little they pull off small bits to munch on. Worms also "swallow" soil as they burrow.

Q. How much do earthworms eat in one day?

A. They can consume up to one third of their own body weight in a day.

Q. Why do earthworms stay underground and seldom come out of the soil?

A. Darkness lets them avoid being dried out by the sun. If their skin dries out, they can no longer breathe. Light paralyzes them if they're in it more than an hour. Then they can't move back to the safety of the soil.

Q. Why do worms come onto driveways and sidewalks when it rains?

A. Dr. Blinky Bill and other worm experts say that worms do NOT surface to avoid drowning. In fact, they come to the surface during rains (especially in the spring) so they can move overland. The temporarily wet conditions give worms a chance to move safely to new places. Since worms breathe through their skin, the skin must stay wet in order for the oxygen to pass through it. After rain or during high humidity are safe times for worms to move around without dehydrating. It is true that, without oxygen, worms will suffocate. But earthworms can survive for several weeks under water, providing there is sufficient oxygen in the water to support them.

Q. Do earthworms come to the surface after heavy rains to avoid drowning?

A. Not exactly. Earthworms can survive for several weeks under water providing there is sufficient oxygen in the water to support them. They surface as a response to high relative humidity after rain because they can move around safely without drying out.

Q. How can I tell if there are earthworms in the soil?

A. When trying to find evidence of earthworms, look at the soil surface first. Earthworms often leave small piles or pellets of soil on the surface. Dig a spadeful of soil and sort through it for earthworms. Experience will also allow you to find cocoons. While you are digging, always watch for evidence of large burrows with "slickened" sidewalls. These may indicate the presence of nightcrawlers.

Q. Why do robins tug at earthworms in the soil?

A. Worms use the many tiny bristles or setae on each of their body rings to help them crawl as well as to anchor themselves firmly in their burrows. The robin has to tug because the worm is gripping the soil!

Q. Can earthworms survive freezing?

A. If frozen, they will die. Earthworms fall into the category of freeze-avoiding invertebrates. Some adults survive freezing temperatures by going below the frost line in winter to "sleep." Earthworm cocoons, however, are much more tolerant to freezing and worm eggs within a cocoon survive deep in the soil over winter to hatch in the spring when conditions are right.

Q. When are worms most active?

A. In the fall and spring. Cool temperatures of 50, 60, 70 degrees F and moist conditions are best for earthworms. Earthworms aren't active when it's cold or dry.

Q. What do earthworms do when it gets too cold, too hot, or too dry?

A. Earthworms escape by either burrowing deeply into the soil (up to about 6 feet or 2 meters), or entering a reduced metabolic state known as estivation. Estivation is a form of hibernation that takes place when temperatures get too hot or too dry for earthworms. When conditions are favorable, the worms will emerge and resume normal activities.

Q. What happens during estivation?

A. Each worm curls up into a tight ball deep in the soil and slows down its metabolism and bodily functions to survive high heat and drought.

Q. What are some earthworm enemies?

A. Snakes, birds, moles, toads and even foxes are known to eat earthworms. Beetles, centipedes, leeches, slugs and flatworms also feed on earthworms. Some types of mites parasitize earthworm cocoons or the worms themselves

[gotlost]

I also live in Doi Saket and have not seen anything like is being reported. I have a very large garden and do have earth worms that If I want have dig up for fishing. Coming out of the ground by the hundreds?? What kind of shyt are you smoking or drinking?

[hanuman1]

Message To Mods: Please delete this thread as it is encroaching on gotlost's rather limited sense of reality.

[gotlost]

Message To Mods: Please delete this thread as it is encroaching on gotlost's rather limited sense of reality.

Reality.Reality. Reality. Whats that?

[SadieMBeagle]

Yes, I'm seeing the mass worm deaths in San Pu Loei too! And last week I took my mom to Doi Ang Khang, and the interesting phenomenon was occurring there too. Very curious.

[hanuman1]

Q. Why do worms come onto driveways and sidewalks when it rains?

A. Dr. Blinky Bill and other worm experts say that worms do NOT surface to avoid drowning. In fact, they come to the surface during rains (especially in the spring) so they can move overland. The temporarily wet conditions give worms a chance to move safely to new places. Since worms breathe through their skin, the skin must stay wet in order for the oxygen to pass through it. After rain or during high humidity are safe times for worms to move around without dehydrating. It is true that, without oxygen, worms will suffocate. But earthworms can survive for several weeks under water, providing there is sufficient oxygen in the water to support them.

Thanks for sharing your internal discourse with us. This bit appears to most closely address the matter at hand, but it had already been raining for several weeks before the 'doomsday cult' behaviour kicked in. Moreover, there hasn't been that much rain at all during the height of the mass checkouts.

There must be more to it than a desire to 'move safely(!?) to new places'.

[Nienke]

I've seen this happening many times over the years.

Usually once a year they come out and die by the dozen. Can't remember exactly, but it is possible that it was around this time of year.

They told me the reason, but can't recall that either.

... Aging ... bloody aging!

[Thaddeus]

No dead worms on the drive this morning, first time for nearly a week.

[gotlost]

I just have not seen this phenomena. I guess I don't live in the wormy parts of town.

[Tywais]

I just have not seen this phenomena. I guess I don't live in the wormy parts of town.

At least I'm not alone in finding it a bit odd as I was noticing them in a drive way at the uni a few days ago. Felt rather bad for them baking on the hot pavement. Perhaps they should be called pavement worms now.

[Ta22]

a few days ago , man many earth worm were also all over my garden and driving path ,

my guess is that is getting too cold and there coming out for sun light and lost their way .

the whole place is crawling with worm and i try to throw a few back on the grass patch . .

good time to start a earth worm composite start collecting

[Throatwobbler]

Isn't it just that the ground is getting cold.

[hanuman1]

a few days ago , man many earth worm were also all over my garden and driving path ,

my guess is that is getting too cold and there coming out for sun light and lost their way .

the whole place is crawling with worm and i try to throw a few back on the grass patch . .

good time to start a earth worm composite start collecting

I refer you to the authoritative work posted earlier by renouned Phylum Annelida specialist Dr Blinky Bill:

Q. What do earthworms do when it gets too cold, too hot, or too dry?

A. Earthworms escape by either burrowing deeply into the soil (up to about 6 feet or 2 meters), or entering a reduced metabolic state known as estivation.

This phenomenon apparently remains a mystery.

Edited November 10, 2010 by hanuman1

[JimShortz]

Boredom is a terrible thing... If you are left with only the habits of worms to discuss it's time to get a hobby!

[PhotoJohn]

The 1976 movie "Squirm" provides the answer.

There was a downed power line in a small town that caused all the worms to come to the surface. They were angry and were attacking people.

[hanuman1]

Boredom is a terrible thing... If you are left with only the habits of worms to discuss it's time to get a hobby!

If it were a habit, we'd probably know the answer already.

And by the way, it isn't 'boredom' that drives me to investigate this most perplexing of conundrums, it's 'avoidance of work' - a far more noble affliction. How dare you suggest otherwise.

[surayu]