Garden Worms

[Beekeeper]

Sometime ago i came home in semi darkness and on one of my front lawns were numerous worms sticking vertically out of it, probably half their entire length was above ground.
As i shone my torch over the lawn they all went back underground quite rapidly.

Firstly is this a common occurence? and secondly why did they respond to light when they are supposed to be blind--at least i always assumed they were.

Ian

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Beekeeper

Sometime ago i came home in semi darkness and on one of my front lawns were numerous worms sticking vertically out of it, probably half their entire length was above ground.
As i shone my torch over the lawn they all went back underground quite rapidly. Firstly is this a common occurence? and secondly why did they respond to light when they are supposed to be blind--at least i always assumed they were. Ian

Earthworms don't have the complex eyes of arthropods or more evolutionarily advanced animals, but they do have light sensitive cells. Under cover of darkness earthworms search the area around the exits of their burrows for food - leaves etc, which they then drag into the burrow. Worms are also sensitive to sound and vibration and it's quite possible that your advancing footsteps caused the worms on mass to make a quick return to the burrows and what you saw was the 'tail end' of this disappearing act.

CM

[Meta menardi]

I think they may have been playing tennis, and you have spoilt their equivalent of Wimbledon.

[Beekeeper]

Cotham Marble,

Many thanks for such an informative answer, it is appreciated

Meta menardi

No it definitely wasn't tennis, more likely to have been rugby!

Ian

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Beekeeper

Cotham Marble,

Many thanks for such an informative answer, it is appreciated

Meta menardi

No it definitely wasn't tennis, more likely to have been rugby!

Ian

Seven Nations