I read about Worm Grunting tonight in National Wildlife Federation magazine, and did a Google, and found this information from Discovery. I found it very interesting.Oct. 20, 2008 -- It sounds a little like snake charming. You drive a wooden stake into the ground and draw a flat metal rod across the top, creating an bullfrog-like grunting sound. Within minutes, hundreds of earthworms come to the surface, where they meet their doom in the buckets of fishing bait collectors.
Now, researcher Ken Catania of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. has an explanation for the worms' hightailing it to the surface: Worm grunting mimics the vibrations made by burrowing moles, a voracious worm predator.
Catania, who studies moles, had read Charles Darwin's statement in a book he wrote on worms: "It has often been said that if the ground is beaten or otherwise made to tremble, worms believe that they are pursued by a mole and leave their burrows."
Others have observed certain turtles and birds tapping the ground to bring worms to the surface to eat.
"Then I heard about this 'worm grunting'," Catania said.
I don't want to catch earthworms, but I sure want to have them here in the fertile ground of Nutwood! They're one of the most beneficial critters you can have.
ReplyDeleteAs Heywood Banks says, "Make 'em little dresses, just leave off the sleeves!" :)
B.
Comment left on previous entry, that had to be redone due to some weird error (Thanks Marty):
ReplyDeleteHi Ken,
Wow ... thanks. Who would have imagined?!?
Best,
Marty
That would be a great idea to bring some worms to the top of the ground for the birds in the winter months. I get sorry for the Robins looking the yard over for those worms. Helen
ReplyDeleteI have heard about this but never tried it. I know a good hard rain at night brings em out in droves too.
ReplyDeleteOh yea we go worm grunting all the time! LOL! That's a new one for me, very cool.
ReplyDeletehi ken, just reading your bit about the earth worms good advice a few tips there but yukkkkkkks!!!! to the pic lol. take care from nancybrownowl
ReplyDeleteeww...worms! very interesting and informative entry...worm grunting, hmmm, my students will enjoy that.
ReplyDeleteYou ever read Frank Herberts "Dune"? LOL ~ this practice reminds me of when they lured the "spice worms" to the surface of the planet. Those said worms were ALOT bigger than the little buggers that are in the pic LOL. Blessings, Teresa
ReplyDeleteDag ... Teresa stole my line!! There is this cartoon I have clipped by Frank Cho that uses the concept and it draws one of the worms that resemble the ones in Dune ...
ReplyDeletei can see my DH out there with a wooden stake and a metal rod making noises waiting on the worms so he can sit and watch all the birds. It all sounds a bit crazy but it works, huh?
ReplyDeleteNever mind the birds. How about the fishermen. Not that many years ago I would go to the newly turned fields around here digging up earth worms for bank fishing (which I used to love). I guess sharing with the birds is a good idea too.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Joyce
Interesting, I love earth worms..they make my garden grow!
ReplyDeleteKen, I learn the most AMAZING things from you!!! Who'd of thunk it?
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! LOL
I've heard of this before, I had forgotten about it though. Thanks for the fascinating reminder. (Hugs)Indigo
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