1
Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Why ( and how) do earthworms get into garden water butts?
« on: 28/12/2012 12:38:10 »
When I was a young child at school, I was taught that earthworms cannot survive for long in water and that is why they come to the surface when it rains. They also allegedly come to the surface when it rains because they are escaping predators such as moles. The sound of raindrops falling onto the ground may be similar to the sound of a mole burrowing. It is also said that birds patter around on a lawn, trying to entice earthworms to the surface by mimicking the sound of heavy rain falling on grass.
However, having started gardening recently, I now regularly see several earthworms at the bottom of the water butts and other water containers in my garden. They appear to survive the underwater existence for days and perhaps even a few weeks, but having got into the containers, they are apparently unable to get out ie the behaviour appears to be self-destructive........but there must be a better reason.
Any explanations?
However, having started gardening recently, I now regularly see several earthworms at the bottom of the water butts and other water containers in my garden. They appear to survive the underwater existence for days and perhaps even a few weeks, but having got into the containers, they are apparently unable to get out ie the behaviour appears to be self-destructive........but there must be a better reason.
Any explanations?