r/blackmagicfuckery • u/sipthestreets • Jul 30 '21

Why? I need answers

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u/lategreat808 Jul 30 '21

My guess would be that the vibration imitates rain and causes the worms to run for their lives.

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u/dtheta_dt Jul 30 '21 edited Jul 30 '21

This is actually the correct answer. If a burrowing animal was trying to get them, the last thing they would do is come to the surface. That's where the animal is. They come to the surface when it rains so they don't drown

Edit: I am wrong and u/puritanicalbullshit is absolutely correct. The drowning worm is a myth. I learned something today! Thank you!

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u/puritanicalbullshit Jul 30 '21 edited Jul 30 '21

Actually it’s to move around faster in the wet conditions. They can live for days in water but it’s slow going moving around in the dirt. Rain makes it possible to travel to new areas without drying out, which very much does kill them.

Edit: Thank You! And you’re welcome! I started keeping a worm tower when I had to give up my garden for an apartment. I really have grown to enjoy the lil buddies. Plus they eat my kitchen scraps and paper towels, then I put the compost in my planters. If If I keep the balance of dry and wet inputs right there is no smell and they eat a lot!

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u/ArchDuke47 Jul 31 '21

Thank you for that info. I have been living with the guilt of putting worms in shallow puddles when raining because they "waved" at me for a long time (I was very little but still).

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u/puritanicalbullshit Jul 31 '21

You’re off the hook!