Earthworms

[ssssnakeluvr]

So anyone ever collected earthworms with a little electricity? Quick and easy!

did that for years!!!! we called them "prods" I used to sell worms when I was little, had a yard crammed full of huge nightcrawlers!!!!! My dad just split an electric cord, attached the bare wires to 2 metal rods with handles, covered with electric tape. this cord was plugged into an extension cord. you push the rods into the ground and wait....the worms come scooting right out of the ground! I did that recently with a store bought little extension cord...has one hot wire and a ground wire so I have one rod in the ground...works...just don't touch the rod when it's plugged in... not fun!!! did that when I was little...last time I did it!!!

[drache]

I've been having trouble finding worms in my yard and I'm wondering what is going on
in a fit of irritation over something else, I moved the entire compost pile this morning
it had needed to be done anyway, so why waste perfectly good anger on pacing and door slamming
anyway - I didn't see any
a whole bunch of other bugs, and some nice black dirt, but no worms
earlier this summer I got a couple of those someone else (Kyle?) had mentioned - the ones that drop the tail
now - nothing
today I read up on land planarians Land Planarian (flatworm) - DirtDoctor.com - Howard Garrett - The Dirt Doctor and now I'm totally freaked
I know it's like hypochondria of the dirt, or stuff one goes through in med school

[Zephyr]

I found one of those this spring. Put it in a container to try and culture it.
Accidentally killed it. lol

[infernalis]

Another lost art form, a worm fiddle.

Drive a wood dowel rod into the ground, leave about 8 inches showing above the surface, then rub a hardwood plank back and forth over the top of the wood peg.

The resulting vibrations drive worms crazy, they will surface rapidly.

I have used electricity for many things, extracting worms is one of them.

[drache]

Drive a wood dowel rod into the ground, leave about 8 inches showing above the surface, then rub a hardwood plank back and forth over the top of the wood peg.

The resulting vibrations drive worms crazy, they will surface rapidly

thanks
how deep do you drive the dowel into the ground?
I like that method better, as it doesn't involve long extension chords and it has a slightly lower carbon footprint

[drache]

I found one of those this spring. Put it in a container to try and culture it.
Accidentally killed it. lol

there's bound to be more - unfortunately

[infernalis]

thanks
how deep do you drive the dowel into the ground?
I like that method better, as it doesn't involve long extension chords and it has a slightly lower carbon footprint

Until the first big rock halts it from going any further, and in my part of NY that isn't too far down.

We have also been known to deluge the yard with a fire hose, and then hunt at night

Unfortunately my source creek is nearly dried up, and I will not draw from a stream in that ones condition.

What are the long pink looking worms that bleed when you cut them??

My snakies like those, and I find quite a few out back.

[infernalis]

One could eliminate the "carbon footprint" by charging a battery with a solar cell, and then using an inverter made for camping to power the probes, this also eliminates extension cords, and allows a portable worm trap.

[drache]

What are the long pink looking worms that bleed when you cut them??

My snakies like those, and I find quite a few out back.

I am fairly certain that's a type of night crawler
the other day one of the ones i cut, did something like that
and one time I thought one of my snakes was bleeding, and it turned out to be the worm

[anji1971]

Most of the worms I cut up bleed. The nightcrawlers, and the little pink ones.
I've also almost gone into a panic thinking one of the snakes was hurt!