Let’s begin with what these worms might be. As most people who have walked outside after a rainstorm know, there are often tons of worms on the sidewalk, street, and driveway. Why does this occur? Since worms are susceptible to drying out, which inhibits their ability to breath, they normally come out of ground only at night (you know, when that massive, burning-hot orb isn’t out). That’s why we call earthworms “nightcrawlers.” However, when it rains during the day, worms can come out – often for mating purposes – because the ground is wet, and hence they are not as susceptible to desiccation. They are basically seizing a rare moment for daytime sex.

So, it’s a widely observed phenomenon that worms come out of the ground when it rains, and there is a fairly straightforward reason for this occurring. But this may not address our reader’s question because, one, she emphasized that the worms are small (often an inch long or shorter), two, she said that they smell, and three, she said that this hasn’t occurred before.

Unfortunately, without more information, it’s really difficult to be sure what sort of worm or worm-like creature this reader is dealing with. The earthworms that come out after it rains are very often larger than an inch (indeed, they can be several inches long), and in our experience, the worms generally don’t carry any particular odor (although this is possible). In fact, it often smells very good after it rains for reasons that don’t concern us presently.

Of course, other types of worms can emerge from the ground after it rains – for example, you can often find potworms in your garden or compost after it rains – but it would be slightly strange to see these worms, let alone thousands of them, exclusively on your driveway after a rain storm.

It’s also possible that our reader is dealing with a particularly large amount of millipedes or centipedes. People have reported these creatures coming out in droves before, and they can be quite a problem, especially if they migrate into your garage or house.

Finally, it’s entirely possible that what she is seeing aren’t worms at all – this particular reader doesn’t make mention of them moving, for example – and it could be that what she is seeing is the seed or other castings from a nearby tree, which would explain the unusual observation of them having a smell.

Well, you clearly aren’t familiar with the many uses of worms! Indeed, worms can be used for a number of different purposes, ranging from compost, as in the case with worms factories, to pet food.

To truly appreciate the utility of worms, a survey of their many uses is in order. Once we convince you that worms can be purchased, we’ll point you to a few places that sell worms online.

(1) Worms are incredibly good at turning everyday, unprocessed compost (like kitchen scraps, rotten food, etc.) into rich compost that can be used for activities like gardening. Red Wigglers are particularly adept at this, but other worms can be used too.

(2) As this first point implies, worms are good at producing nutrient-rich compost, so worms are also used to enhance soil without the help of chemical fertilizers.

(3) Wild birds eat worms; people like to see wild birds. Therefore, people who want to see wild birds might be inclined to buy some worms and lay them out for birds to feast upon. Be sure to only do this in the shade, though, as we all know what happens (and quickly) to worms left in the sun.

(4) As any son who has been on a fishing trip with his dad knows, worms can be used as bait for fish. You might think it extravagant to purchase worms for fishing – after all, how hard is it to turn over a couple of rocks and grab some worms – but if you’re in a hurry and it hasn’t rained recently, it might behoove you to buy some worms on your way to the ocean, lake, or river.

(5) Tons of pets eat worms, and not just obscure pets. Do you ever wonder what people feed their small birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish? Worms! Also, some people raise fish for commercial purposes, and they too will often feed their stock worms.

(6) Last but certainly not least, some people buy worms to incorporate into their cooking! Yes, really!

So, there are six different reasons people might buy worms, and maybe you are now convinced that you too should buy some worms. Where might you go to purchase worms? Here are a few places where you can buy worms online:

Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm
Featured on Oprah, Uncle Jim’s takes their worms seriously. They sell Super Red Worms and Red Wrigglers.

The Worm Farm
The Worm Farm, another good place to buy worms online, sells Redworms, European Nightcrawlers, and Dendras.

EarthWorms 4 Sale
EarthWorms 4 Sale has a relatively large selection, offering Redworms, African Nightcrawlers, European Nightcrawlers, Canadian Nightcrawlers, and Alabama Jumpers.

Worms need a moist environment for survival, and they must also remain close to their food supply. Worms eat leaves and dead grass, which contain organisms that provide a healthy diet of bacteria, algae, and fungi. Worms feast on dirt as well, especially if they live deeper inside the earth. Worms also eat plants, fruits, and vegetables. The worm’s moist and sustenance rich environment plays an extremely important role in reproduction as well. Worms prefer to mate and reproduce in warm moist soil, away from the light.

Earthworms can be found in just about every corner of the earth. They live in trees, in bark, and under rocks as well as along rivers, near springs, and in ponds. Their favorite place to live, however, is burrowed inside the earth’s rich soil. During the winter months they burrow deep within the earth until the surface warms again during the spring. During the warm summer months, worms stay closer to the tops of soil where they create tunnels to wiggle in and out of. This allows air to get to the plant roots.

Without the worm’s tunneling action, called “aeration,” the earth’s trees, plants, fruits, and vegetables would not survive. In addition to aerating the soil, which keeps plants alive, worms also eat organic matter, digest it, and excrete the digested material. Worms eat so much that they typically produce digested material equal to their own weight every 24 hours. This digested material is called castings. The castings are rich with much needed phosphorus, calcium, and potassium.

Earthworms belong to one of several different types of ecological groups. There are three broad ecological groups that have been identified for earthworms including epigeic, endogeic, and anecic. The groups are based on what the earthworms eat and where they tend to live in the soil. The epigeic group is a litter feeder and dweller, pigmented, small in size, and it doesn’t burrow. The endogeic group consists of rich soil feeders, topsoil dwellers, has no pigmentation, burrows horizontally, and it is small in size. The anecic consists of litter and soil feeders, soil dwellers, dorsally pigmented bodies, extensive vertical burrows, and a large size. Size and color are usually good distinguishers for adult earthworms.

The clitellum of adult earthworms contains features called genital tumescence, and tubercula pubertatis. The clitellum features, the male pores, and female pores are found above the clitellum and are all parts of the earthworm reproductive system. The earthworm has “setae” which are tiny hair-like projections that are arranged in rows along the earthworm body. The setae are used for locomotion by the earthworm.

Worms have no lungs, so they breathe through their skin. This means that the worm’s environment and skin must be moist at all times. This allows the worm to breathe in oxygen. If the worm’s skin dries out, the worm will die from suffocation. While worms need moisture to survive, too much moisture can be fatal. If too much water is present, it takes the place of oxygen, which will cause the worms to flee to the surface. Once on the surface, worms will be exposed to sunlight. If worms remain in the sunlight for too long, they can become paralyzed.

Although you cannot see them, believe it or not, worms do have mouths. The earthworm mouth is called the prostomium. The worm’s mouth is actually big enough and powerful enough to grab a leaf and drag it around. They also have a pharynx, esophagus, crop, gizzard and intestine. When the worm eats its food, it pulls the materials into its mouth with the help of the pharynx and its prostomium (also called acron). This creates a suction motion. This suction motion aids in helping the worm consume large amounts of food in a sort amount of time. The gizzard grinds the food.

About Inchworms

An inchworm is the larvae of moths, of the family Geometridae (phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Lepidoptera). This large, widely diffused group has more than 1,200 species indigenous to North America. Some inchworms (also “inch worm”) are considered average while others are considered extraordinary. Inch worms do, however, have many common characteristics. They have smooth, hairless bodies, and they typically grow up to one inch in length. Their colors run the gamut from brown and black to bright green.

Also referred to as loopers, measuring worms, and spanworms, inchworms have three pairs of legs at the front end and two to three pairs of prolegs or larval abdominal appendages at the rear. Inchworms travel by drawing their hind end forward while gripping the earth with its prolegs. They have the ability to stand erect and motionless when poked or prodded in any way.

Much like spiders, some inch worms have the ability produce thin delicate lines. In some cases, these thin lines are made of silk. It just so happens that one of the most destructive types of inchworms, called cankerworms, produces soft silk threads as they drop from trees to evade predators. Also called measuring worms, cankerworms vary in color, but their bodies consist of long horizontal stripes. Cankerworms feed on shrub foliage and tree foliage. These creatures like to hang out in apples, elms, oaks, lindens, sweetgums, and a wide variety of other shade and fruit trees.

Another type of inch worm, also called Looper and Cabbage Looper, overwinters as green to brown pupae tightly wrapped in cocoons (not webs) of white thread. In the spring, the adult moth emerges. The adult lays its eggs, typically on the surface of leaves. Once the larvae emerge, they feed for two to four weeks. Once they’ve had their fill, the larvae spin cocoons similar to the ones used during the overwinter process. The larvae prefer vegetable gardens and they eat a variety of crops including: celery, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, Brussels sprouts, beans, parsley, broccoli, potatoes, tomatoes, and peas.

Unfortunately, larvae eating habits cause massive destruction to food crop foliage. Simply put, larvae will eat as many holes as they can in the leaves of all kinds. Fortunately, there are several ways to control larvae/inchworm infestations. Trichogramma wasps are natural predators as well as birds, yellow jackets and paper wasps. They are also controlled by natural diseases and parasites. Wilt disease causes the worms body to rot. This usually happens late in the season. “Bacillus thuringiensis,” a wilt pathogen, is available to gardeners to help control infestations.

Earthworms are just the opposite of poisonous. These mellow creatures play a significant part in the survival of plants, flowers, and trees. Without them, the earth’s trees, plants, fruits, and vegetables would not survive. Worms do several things for the earth. They aerate the soil, which means they dig tunnels in the soil, which allows air to get to the plant roots. Worms also eat organic matter, digest it, and excrete the digested material. This digested material is called castings. The castings are rich with phosphorus, calcium, and potassium.

Worm castings are so valuable and ten times richer in nutrients that commercial topsoil, that many gardeners and farmers use the composting method to fertilize plants and crops. Worm castings also help create channels within the layers of the earth’s soil, which helps to hold water better and keep moisture in the soil longer.

Earthworm Facts

•There are more than 4,400 different types of worms in existence today. Of the 4,400 species, there are 2,700 species of earthworm. There are more than 1,200 species of another type of worm called the inchworm.

•Earthworms belong to one of several different types of ecological groups. There are three broad ecological groups that have been identified for earthworms including: epigeic, endogeic, and anecic. The groups are based on what the earthworms eat and where they tend to live in the soil. The epigeic group is a litter feeder, litter dweller, pigmented, small in size, and it doesn’t burrow. The endogeic group consists of rich soil feeders, topsoil dwellers, has no pigmentation, burrows horizontally, and it is small in size. The anecic consists of litter and soil feeders, soil dwellers, dorsally pigmented bodies, extensive vertical burrows, and a large size. Size and color are usually good distinguishers for adult earthworms.

•Earthworms can be found in just about every corner of the earth. They live in trees, in bark, and under rocks as well as along rivers, near springs, and in ponds. Their favorite place to live, however, is burrowed inside the earth’s rich soil. During the winter months they burrow deep within the earth until the surface warms again during the spring. During the warm summer months, worms stay closer to the tops of soil where they create tunnels to wiggle in and out of. These tunnels are extremely important for plant life as they create a path for water and air, which is essential for the survival of plant life.

•The clitellum of adult earthworms contains features called genital tumescence, and tubercula pubertatis. The clitellum features, the male pores, and female pores are found above the clitellum and are all parts of the earthworm reproductive system.

•The earthworm has “setae” which are tiny hair-like projections that are arranged in rows along the earthworm body. The setae are used for locomotion by the earthworm.

•Places like China, Australia, Greenland, and the Sahara Desert have their own indigenous species of earthworms. Besides the Sahara Desert, you won’t find large numbers of worms living in “sandy” areas, especially sandy beaches. The vast majority of worms on our planet can only survive under certain environmental conditions.

•Worms have no lungs, so they breathe through their skin. This means that the worm’s environment and skin must be moist at all times. This allows the worm to breathe in oxygen. If the worm’s skin dries out, the worm will die from suffocation. While worms need moisture to survive, too much moisture can be fatal. If too much water is present, it takes the place of oxygen, which will cause the worms to flee to the surface. Once on the surface, worms will be exposed to sunlight. If worms remain in the sunlight for too long, they can become paralyzed.

•In addition to needing a moist environment for survival, worms must also remain close to their food supply. Worms feed off of leaves and dead grass, which contain organisms that provide a healthy diet of bacteria, algae, and fungi. Worms feast on dirt as well, especially if they live deeper inside the earth. Worms also eat plants, fruits and vegetables.

•Although you cannot see them, believe it or not, worms do have mouths. The earthworm mouth is called the prostomium. The worm’s mouth is actually big enough and powerful enough to grab a leaf and drag it around. They also have a pharynx, esophagus, crop, gizzard and intestine. When the worm eats its food, it pulls the materials into its mouth with the help of the pharynx and its prostomium (also called acron). This creates a suction motion. This suction motion aids in helping the worm consume large amounts of food in a sort amount of time. The gizzard grinds the food.

•Worms eat so much that they typically produce excrement equal to their own weight every 24 hours.

•The worm’s moist sustenance rich environment plays an extremely important role in reproduction as well. Worms prefer to mate and reproduce in warm moist soil, away from the light.

In the hot sun, worms skin dries out. The end result is a dried out worm that appears flattened or deflated, and crisp to the touch. Worms do not have lungs, so they breathe trough their moist skin. Simply put, the sun dries out the skin, resulting in paralyzation and suffocation.

While worms do not have eyes, legs, arms or lungs, they do have bristles that help to protect them from predators (mostly birds) and they actually do have organs that allow them to reproduce. In fact, all worms have the ability to reproduce because worms are both male and female. The technical term for this condition is hermaphrodite. Worms mate by joining the swollen area near the head of the adult worm. This area is called the clitella. Once the clitella connect, the mating worms exchange sperm. This means that both worms become pregnant from the exchange by forming an egg capsule in each clitella.

If you notice a worm is wiggling and writhing in the sunlight, but you can tell they are headed in a certain direction, chances are it’s heading towards the nearest dark place whether it’s back into the dirt, under a rock or a brick, under a leaf, or even under rubble or debris. Help the worm out if you can because these tiny little creatures play a vital role in our environment. Earthworms secrete slime. This slime contains nitrogen, which is an extremely important nutrient for plant life. Worms also do several major things for the earth. They aerate the soil, which means they dig tunnels in the soil, which allows air to get to the plant roots. Worms also eat organic matter, digest it, and excrete the digested material. This digested material is called “castings.” The castings are rich with phosphorus, calcium, and potassium.

Worm castings are so valuable and ten times richer in nutrients that commercial topsoil, that many gardeners and farmers use the composting method to fertilize plants and crops. Worm castings also help create channels within the layers of the earth’s soil, which helps to hold water better and keep moisture in the soil longer.

For more information about earthworms, read our article “Facts About Worms” by clicking here or cut and paste the following link: http://www.allaboutworms.com/facts-about-worms.

As for earthworms, besides being grossed out, accidentally swallowing a worm won’t harm you. In fact, some worms are actually beneficial to the body, although they are not necessary for survival. Worms are packed with protein, they are a source of nourishment and food for many animals, and they may provide a fair amount of entertainment as documented in the popular book How to Eat Fried Worms.

Other types of beneficial worms are being used in experimental research to treat intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is an intestinal disease that causes severe cramps and sudden attacks of diarrhea. It is not curable, but doctors are trying to find ways to manage the disease and give patients relief from its symptoms. Worms are proving to alleviate the symptoms of this disease and give relief to those who suffer from it.

One mother from Iowa (Anna Glanz) visits her doctor every three weeks to drink worm eggs. The worms then grow inside her gut and then pass out of her system after a few weeks. The result of this treatment has been a complete remission from the disease. She no longer has any of the symptoms she previously suffered from. While the idea of deliberately eating worms (or in this case worm eggs) may make some nauseous, those who participate in research trials are finding that it is far better than suffering from the condition itself.

Other researchers continue to investigate the advantages of worms in the human body. Some believe that the human immune system is now out of balance since worms have been eradicated from the body. Gut worms in particular were part of the human system until about 50 years ago. A unique coincidence of this fact is that until about 50 years ago, allergies were virtually non-existent.

One UK scientist developed a case of hookworms when on a field trip. He studies himself as well as the worms living inside him because he has had nearly a complete remission of his hay fever symptoms since the hookworms entered his body.

These ideas are not entirely new. In many underdeveloped countries, natives still function with worms in their bodies. And, in some countries, such as China and Mexico, that eat worms as part of the daily diet. Worms can be nutritious, good for your health, and they do have a lot of protein.

Most worms that dwell in soil and gardens are fairly safe to eat. However, there are also many insects that appear to be worms in the early stages of life, but they are not worms at all. Butterflies, moths, and flies are commonly mistaken for worms in their larval stages. And while maggots (baby flies) are not likely to hurt anyone, they are seldom among the animals (worms or otherwise) that anyone wants to eat, even on a dare.

Source
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3287733.stm

During the winter months, worms burrow deep into the soil, oftentimes up to six feet, to escape the bitter cold. Worms can survive in temperatures ranging from 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit, but the environment must still be moist and dark. When it is cold or dry, worms are not active. When the temperature of the soil reaches around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the worms will make their way back to the upper parts of soil and any eggs will hatch. You will notice white spots in the soil that look like pearls—those are worm eggs. But when the eggs hatch, a brown shell is left behind. The worm repeats this cycle every year.

About Earthworms

There are more than 4,400 different types of worms. Of the 4,400 species, there are 2,700 species of earthworm. There are more than 1,200 species of another type of worm called the inchworm. Each type of worm plays a major role in helping the earth’s trees, plants, fruits, and vegetables thrive. Worms aerate the soil, which means, worms dig tunnels in the soil, allowing air to get to plant roots.

Worms also eat organic matter digest it, and excrete the digested material. This digested material is called “castings.” Worm castings are rich with phosphorus, calcium, and potassium because the worms diet consists of leaves and dead grass, which contain organisms that provide a healthy diet of bacteria, algae, and fungi. Worms also eat plants, fruits, and vegetables.

Worms eat so much that they typically produce excrement equal to their own weight every 24 hours. Worm castings are ten times richer in nutrients than commercial topsoil, making it a valuable fertilizer for gardeners and farmers. Worm castings also help create channels within the layers of the earth’s soil, which helps to hold water better and keep moisture in the soil longer.

Earthworms can be found in just about every corner of the earth. They live in trees, in bark, and under rocks as well as along rivers, near springs, and in ponds. Their favorite place to live, however, is burrowed inside the earth’s rich soil. Places like China, Australia, Greenland, and the Sahara Desert have their own indigenous species of earthworms. Besides the Sahara Desert, you won’t find large numbers of worms living in “sandy” areas, especially sandy beaches. The vast majority of worms on our planet can only survive under certain environmental conditions.

Worm Anatomy and Reproduction

Earthworms belong to one of several different types of ecological groups. There are three broad ecological groups that have been identified for earthworms including: epigeic, endogeic, and anecic. The groups are based on what the earthworms eat and where they tend to live in the soil. The epigeic group is a litter feeder, litter dweller, pigmented, small in size, and it doesn’t burrow. The endogeic group consists of rich soil feeders, topsoil dwellers, has no pigmentation, burrows horizontally, and it is small in size. The anecic consists of litter and soil feeders, soil dwellers, dorsally pigmented bodies, extensive vertical burrows, and a large size. Size and color are usually good distinguishers for adult earthworms.

The earthworm has “setae” which are tiny hair-like projections that are arranged in rows along the earthworm body. The setae are used for locomotion by the earthworm. Worms have no lungs, so they breathe through their skin. This means that the worm’s environment and skin must be moist at all times. This allows the worm to breathe in oxygen. In addition to needing a moist environment for survival, worms must also remain close to their food supply.

Although you cannot see them, worms do have mouths. The earthworm mouth is called the prostomium. The worm’s mouth is actually big enough and powerful enough to grab a leaf and drag it around. They also have a pharynx, esophagus, crop, gizzard and intestine. When the worm eats its food, it pulls the materials into its mouth with the help of the pharynx and its prostomium (also called acron). This creates a suction motion. This suction motion aids in helping the worm consume large amounts of food in a sort amount of time. The gizzard grinds the food.

The clitellum of adult earthworms contains features called genital tumescence, and tubercula pubertatis. The clitellum features, the male pores, and female pores are found above the clitellum and are all parts of the earthworm reproductive system. The earthworm’s moist sustenance rich environment plays an extremely important role in reproduction

Flatworms may grow up to 20 inches long and they typically have slim bodies, which allow them to move along the ground with a gliding motion. The body secretes mucus from glands on its belly or underside. Land-dwelling flatworms can be spotted in the early morning hours, especially after a hard rain. They are nocturnal, however, and they love wet surfaces. They will stick to just about any moist or wet surface, as well as dry tree branches and trunks. Keep in mind that there are several varieties of land flatworms.

Two of the most common types of land flatworms include the hammerhead flat worm and the flatworm with a pointed head (instead of a hammerhead), with a dark brown body. The flatworm is usually medium-brown in color with dark markings or stripes. Some worms may appear gray to greenish/gray as well. All types feed on beneficial earthworms, so beware.

If you have a flatworm infestation, there are several ways to control populations. The first thing to keep in mind is, if you attempt to chop a flatworm in half or even smash it, the pieces will only regenerate into new flatworms. So, even if you chop a flat worm into seven pieces, you will end up with seven newly generated worms. You must dissolve the flatworm completely in order to get rid of it.

Flatworm treatment methods include salt, vinegar, and citrus oil. These products must be applied directly to the flat worms in order to be effective. Spreading them around the soil or areas where you the worms have been spotted won’t dissolve these parasites completely. You can use a spray bottle for the vinegar and citrus oil methods and you can simply pour the salt over the worms to dissolve them.

In general, most garden worms are quite harmless and in most instances, they can be beneficial to your garden, plants, and trees. Most garden worms help to control destructive termite larvae and grubs, as well as other destructive garden pests. They can also help mix the earths soil by burrowing into the ground or even writhing around in topsoil. While most garden worms are helpful, so they should be left alone, there are some (such as the flatworm) that are dangerous and should be eliminated. The flatworm does not help to control other pest populations as most worms do. They actually kill and eat earthworms, exclusively. The flatworm is considered a parasite and it devours its only prey by pushing its throat outside if its mouth and snapping up any part of the earthworm’s body. It melts the earthworm’s body with an enzyme and slowly eats it until the earthworm is completely consumed. It is important to remember that earthworms are the most important creatures on earth.

Earthworms play an important part in fertilizing the soil, and they also help with oxygen and water flow into the soil. Earthworms excrete tons of castings (excrement) each year, which is a powerful fertilizer. Just think, 25 earthworms per square foot of soil equal 1 million earthworms per acre. In healthy soil, 40 tons of castings per acre pass through earthworms’ bodies daily. A new U.S. study suggests that there are 1.5 million worms per acre, which move 20 tons of earth each year.

Earthworms also burrow into the soil creating passageways for oxygen and water. Because earthworms are so important to the survival of the earth’s plants, trees, and crops, when trying to get rid of destructive creatures such as flatworms, you must take special care not to harm the earthworms.

Worm castings are so valuable and ten times richer in nutrients that commercial topsoil, that many gardeners and farmers use the composting method to fertilize plants and crops. Worm castings also help create channels within the layers of the earth’s soil, which helps to hold water better and keep moisture in the soil longer.

To avoid killing earthworms, it is important to make sure the pest that has infested your milkwood, pecan, or apple tree does not have any of the characteristics of an earthworm. Just a few of the characteristics used to identify earthworms include Genital tumescene (GT), the Tubercula pubertatis (TP), and the Clitellum. The clitellum of adult earthworms contains features called genital tumescence, and tubercula pubertatis. The clitellum features, the male pores, and female pores are found above the clitellum and are all parts of the earthworm reproductive system.

Earthworms also have “setae” which are tiny hair-like projections that are arranged in rows along the earthworm body. The setae are used are used for locomotion by the earthworm. The prostomium is the earthworm mouth. The size, shape, and position of the different characteristics of the worm are different in different species of earthworms and will help you to identify the species of earthworms you may be dealing with.

Once you have made the determination that the pests are not earthworms, you can begin treatment. Try using Dipel Dust & Spray or Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt). Fortunately, these insecticides are harmless to people and they are not considered toxic to friendly insects. If you decide to use anything stronger than these biological insecticides, please consider hiring a professional home and garden exterminator. A professional home and garden exterminator will know exactly how to kill the pests in your trees without killing earthworms or causing any further damage to your trees.

For more information on how to control pests in your garden and trees, visit the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources website at http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r107303211.html.

While worms need moisture to survive, too much moisture can be fatal. If too much water is present, it takes the place of oxygen, which will cause the worms to flee to the surface. Caterpillars can tolerate the sun just fine, but the wind is altogether different story. The wind can easily blow the caterpillar in a direction it does not want to go as it transforms into a butterfly.

Earthworms typically live in the upper areas of soil, which offers the moist environment it needs to survive and easy access to food sources. Some also live deep within the earths soil. Earthworms eat all types of organic matter such as leaves and dead grass, which contain organisms that provide a healthy diet of bacteria, algae, and fungi. Worms feast on dirt as well, especially if they live deeper inside the earth. Worms also eat plants, fruits, and vegetables.

Caterpillars eat a wide variety of plants, flowers, and fruits. It just depends on the type of caterpillar the host it prefers. For example, some caterpillars such as the larvae of the eastern tiger swallowtail, prefer wild cherry, basswood, birch, ash, mountain ash, and willow, while the larvae of the white admiral prefers
birch, aspen, poplar, willow, hawthorn, basswood, and amelanchier.

Other Differences between Caterpillars and Worms

One of the most obvious differences between caterpillars and worms is caterpillars move around on three pairs of legs, while worms have no limbs at all. Worms move around by contracting their segments. Each segment has two pairs of hairs called setae. The setae help worms grip the soil or other materials. In general, worms and caterpillars move slowly. When faced by an attacker, however, they can move fairly quickly.

Caterpillars are often described as “wormlike” creatures, but worms and caterpillars have just as many differences as they have similarities. Two of the most obvious similarities between worms and caterpillars are: both worms and caterpillars have soft bodies, meaning they do not have a skeletal system, and both animals are nocturnal. Depending on the species worm, some caterpillars and worms may also be similar in length. Some caterpillars may grow up to three inches or more.

There are literally thousands of different species of worms and more than 2,700 species of earthworm alone. Like earthworms (annelida), caterpillars have segmented bodies. Another similarity between caterpillars and worms is caterpillars and worms are a favorite food for other animals. They are both protein rich and some worms, such as the white worm or “pasta worm”, are raised specifically for feeding to other animals such as fish. Worms and caterpillars are known for having hearty appetites. Their appetites are so hearty that they have earned the name “pest” by farmers around the globe. Depending on the type of worm or caterpillar, they can eat through crops of all kinds, plants, trash, and even inedible materials such as cotton.

Worms and caterpillars have to defend themselves against a wide variety of predators quite regularly. Because of this, each animal has no choice but to utilize a wide variety of techniques to ward off attacks. Worms protect themselves in several ways. If their attackers hunt for them below ground, worms will quickly withdraw into their burrows. If a worm finds itself face to face with a predator on the surface, the worm will thrash about, jump, and twist their bodies. Some worms may also spit and spew a foul smelling or foul tasting fluid.

The caterpillar is just as aggressive when it comes to defending itself. Caterpillars have long hairs or bristles on their bodies, which can detach and lodge into the skin or mucous membranes of the predator. In some caterpillars, the bristles contain poison from the caterpillar’s venom glands. This poison is so powerful that in the case of the South American silk moth, it can be fatal to human beings. Much like worms, caterpillars also spit juices and produce bad smells to ward off attackers. Caterpillars also have the ability to create a silk line and drop out of site if a predator approaches. How amazing is that?

Sources

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Publications “Landscaping for Butterflies in Maine.” http://umaine.edu/publications/7151e/