Why do earthworms surface when it rains?
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My biggest question about earthworms when I began this website was why do they leave the soil when its raining and seek refuge on my porch? (or like anyones porch)
There are a couple of reasons why earthworms surface....
1. Soil experts think earthworms surface during rain storms for migration
purposes.
It gives them an opportunity to move greater distances across the soil
surface than they could do through soil, they cannot do this when it is dry because of their moisture requirements.
2. Certain species of earthworms surface to mate, but only a few of the 4,400
existing species, making it unlikely that mating is a primary reason for
widespread surfacing.
Retrieved from:http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3X_vE-miWSE/UJY4QJtHQPI/
AAAAAAAHE8/mdkCLiipeoQ/s1600/EarthwormRain.jpg
3. Another explanation involves rain drop vibrations on the soil surface sounding similar to predator vibrations, like that of moles. Earthworms often come to the surface to escape moles. Rain can set up vibrations on top of the soil like mole vibrations. Similar to how earthworms move upwards and out of the way when predator vibrations are felt, they could move in a similar way for rain
vibrations.
So that solves the mystery of the worms on my porch...sorta.
There are a couple of reasons why earthworms surface....
1. Soil experts think earthworms surface during rain storms for migration
purposes.
It gives them an opportunity to move greater distances across the soil
surface than they could do through soil, they cannot do this when it is dry because of their moisture requirements.
2. Certain species of earthworms surface to mate, but only a few of the 4,400
existing species, making it unlikely that mating is a primary reason for
widespread surfacing.
Retrieved from:http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3X_vE-miWSE/UJY4QJtHQPI/
AAAAAAAHE8/mdkCLiipeoQ/s1600/EarthwormRain.jpg
3. Another explanation involves rain drop vibrations on the soil surface sounding similar to predator vibrations, like that of moles. Earthworms often come to the surface to escape moles. Rain can set up vibrations on top of the soil like mole vibrations. Similar to how earthworms move upwards and out of the way when predator vibrations are felt, they could move in a similar way for rain
vibrations.
So that solves the mystery of the worms on my porch...sorta.