Worms at the Trough

Comment by The Garbage Guru on September 1, 2010 at 7:32pm

I don't know how you can sleep at night from all that chewing noise.I can hear it all the way out here! CHOMP!CHOMP!CHOMP!

Comment by Steven on September 11, 2010 at 5:37pm

That is an amazing video! How is it they are not bothered by the light? They seem like they are right up against the glass even though it looks to be very bright.

Comment by Susan B on September 11, 2010 at 7:19pm

Steven, I had a clear-ish bin for a while and I found my PEs ran from sunlight but had no response to artificial light. Maybe it's the UV? (The part that cause skin cancer in humans.)

Comment by Tammy B. on September 11, 2010 at 7:34pm

My EEs in the worm factory hardly budge when I lift the lid, it seems they're used to the partial light that gets in all day (the lid fits loosely and allows light in through the sides). The ones in my RM that is covered with black landscape cloth run for cover with ANY light. Maybe they just adapt to whatever environment they're used to?

Comment by Andrew on September 11, 2010 at 7:59pm

Steven, the camera makes it look brighter than it is to the human eye. Even if I could focus at a distance of 1-2", I'm not sure I'd be able to see the kind of detail the camera lens picked up. In another video I used reflected light (not directly shining on the worms) from an LED flashlight. In all cases, the EEs sometimes react to the light and sometimes not.

I notice they're sometimes more reactive when the bin temps are 75F and above, but that's not always the case. I can't remember if worms have dedicated light sensors in a specific area along their body (most likely the head) or if the entire surface of their skin is sensitive to light. I do recall reading accounts where people observed EEs stretched out on the surface and not reacting when the lid was opened. One guy wrote it was like they're exhibitionists showing off their bodies. Who knows what they're up to. Maybe there are certain times of day that they're just less reactive?

Comment by Steven Chow on September 12, 2010 at 9:13pm

Amazing video. It is so cool to see them eating like that.

Comment by Karen P on September 15, 2010 at 11:34am

this is absolutely awesome! Thank you!

Comment by Paula Allen on October 24, 2010 at 7:24pm

amazing

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