Do you know, where you're going to...

Paul Iddon · January 26, 2015

...Do you like the things that life is showing you? Where are you going to? Do you know? :dj

Pretty sure the worm doesn't - and to be honest, I couldn't tell one end from the other - neither seemed to have any opening - be it a mouth or a bum!

Exif:
Copyright: Paul Iddon - A View of the UK
Camera: Canon EOS 70D
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Exposure: Auto exposure, Aperture-priority AE, 1/20 sec, f/5.6, ISO 250

Paul.

e6filmuser · January 26, 2015

Nice images. They are the front end. Lumbricus terrestris has a flat rear end. If the worm has a clitellum (a paler, swollen collar which has the reproductive organs) that is near the front end. I have lots of worms in my compost heaps and sometimes find egg cocoons.

Harold

Paul Iddon · January 26, 2015

e6filmuser wrote: »

Nice images. They are the front end. Lumbricus terrestris has a flat rear end. If the worm has a clitellum (a paler, swollen collar which has the reproductive organs) that is near the front end. I have lots of worms in my compost heaps and sometimes find egg cocoons.

Harold

Well spotted Harold - bang on with the location. I wondered though if this is the Eisenia fetida?

Here is the rear then, I didn't edit it to begin with because it was just that, the back end!!!

Paul.

Stumblebum · January 26, 2015

#3 and #4 for me!!

Paul Iddon · January 26, 2015

Stumblebum wrote: »

#3 and #4 for me!!

Cheers SB

Paul.

e6filmuser · January 26, 2015

Paul Iddon wrote: »

Well spotted Harold - bang on with the location. I wondered though if this is the Eisenia fetida?

Here is the rear then, I didn't edit it to begin with because it was just that, the back end!!!

Paul.

Paul,

The chances are that they are E. fetida aka the Brandling. I have a culture of known origin in my heaps. The species has two forms anyway, one a bit more yellowish than the other. If they have a clitellum when no more than a couple of inches long the are probably Eisenia. Other earthworms of similar build live in the soil. Some of the large earthworms are not Lumbricus but Allobophora. However, the greenish A. chlorotica is about the same size as Eisenia.

If they migrate, in large numbers, to the top of the heap and maybe beyond, then it is too wet for them, although they will survive. If you let the heap dry out quite bit in the summer they will lay eggs in drop-shaped cocoons.

Harold

Paul Iddon · January 26, 2015

Thanks for the update Harold.

I usually find a dozen of them around the rim of lid of the compost bin.

Paul.

Cavalier · January 26, 2015

Well first, being a devout insect-phobic, I have to say Eew :eek1

But I do appreciate the talent needed to do micro photography no matter the subject. These are really good shots. Number 4 looks like it raised it's head to greet you. Congrats.

Paul Iddon · January 26, 2015

Cavalier wrote: »

Well first, being a devout insect-phobic, I have to say Eew :eek1

But I do appreciate the talent needed to do micro photography no matter the subject. These are really good shots. Number 4 looks like it raised it's head to greet you. Congrats.

Thank you Jo

For worms, they move surprisingly fast too...

Paul.

Lord Vetinari · January 27, 2015

LOvely series Paul- yes I get them round the rim too
Brian V.

Paul Iddon · January 27, 2015

Lord Vetinari wrote: »

LOvely series Paul- yes I get them round the rim too
Brian V.

Thanks Brian

Glad I'm not alone, lol..

Paul.

e6filmuser · January 27, 2015

Lord Vetinari wrote: »

LOvely series Paul- yes I get them round the rim too
Brian V.

I find them most days, although not this morning, the first frost-free morning for quite a while.

This may be of interest:

http://orbi.ulg.ac.be/bitstream/2268/31774/1/A new case of consensual decision- collective movement in earthworms.pdf

By the way, the species name comes from the stink of the yellow coelomic fluid it may exude when handled.

Harold

Paul Iddon · January 27, 2015

Cheers Harold, I'll be sure not to hold any, lol..

Interesting feature - I know many to cultivate worms as a hobby.

Paul.

e6filmuser · January 27, 2015

Paul Iddon wrote: »

Cheers Harold, I'll be sure not to hold any, lol..

Interesting feature - I know many to cultivate worms as a hobby.

Paul.

For a number of years I had to, with an assistant, cultivate them professionally and run pesticide safety tests on them.

Harold

GOLDENORFE · January 31, 2015

Can't say I have seen worm shots many times

Well done & it must have prevented boredom. Lol

Paul Iddon · January 31, 2015

GOLDENORFE wrote: »

Can't say I have seen worm shots many times
Well done & it must have prevented boredom. Lol

First time for everything - and despite having seen hundreds before this, I never once put a camera anywhere near one!

Paul.

Do you know, where you're going to...

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