Earthworm Troubles

Nigel Hurneyman (NHurneyman@softwar1.demon.co.uk)
Thu, 12 Dec 1996 13:18:09 -0000

I too have an earthworm infestation. It seems to be more unsightly than
anything else, although they can cause problems for the smaller pygmies.
I think they came in a bale of peat from my local garden centre.

I haven't tried the electric shock treatment, but I have tried immersion in
water (I think my worms have breathing apparatus because they won't
surface and they don't drown). Spraying with heavy droplets rather than a
fine mist seems to bring them to the surface - perhaps it simulates rain -
and they tend to surface at night anyway. However grabbing them with
tweezers hasn't proved a good strategy - what's worse than an earthworm
in a colony of pygmies - half an earthworm! Since pygmy colonies seem
to have a short useful life, I am using barrier methods to prevent new
infections and slowly replacing old colonies with new ones started from
gemmae. My worms seem to be territorial - only one adult per pot.

In a year or two's time, I should have at my disposal the ultimate earthworm
nightmare - New Zealand Flatworms are now common in Scotland and
making their way South.

Gooid Growing, Nigel Hurneyman