04-14-2004, 10:43 PM
Hey Fuzzy, you ever try rinsing them off after you get them with the detergent mixture? Maybe they would live longer.
Google the search term "earthworms come to the surface" and you'll find that though some still believe worms come to the surface to keep from drowning, most worm experts (now there's an obscure job) currently believe the following...
Question - Do earthworms come to the surface and onto driveways and sidewalks after heavy rains to avoid drowning?
Answer - Dr. Dennis Linden, Cindy Hale, 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 and look for new mates. 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.
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Google the search term "earthworms come to the surface" and you'll find that though some still believe worms come to the surface to keep from drowning, most worm experts (now there's an obscure job) currently believe the following...
Question - Do earthworms come to the surface and onto driveways and sidewalks after heavy rains to avoid drowning?
Answer - Dr. Dennis Linden, Cindy Hale, 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 and look for new mates. 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.
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