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slow worm or just big worm?
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hils



Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 568
Location: Nottingham
PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 05 9:10 am    Post subject: slow worm or just big worm? Reply with quote
    

I seem to have some huge worms in my allotment - I never seem to have my camera when I dig them up. Do slow worms have any distinguishing features other than being BIG. These worms are at least 1 1/2 cm wide and about 15cm long...

judith



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire
PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 05 9:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Slow worms are scaly, have eyes and mouth - like a lizard with no legs. I don't think you could confuse one with an earthworm. My Mum used to have a slow worm living in her compost bin!

Bugs



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 05 9:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

They're smooth and dry, not really like a worm at all, most people would say "snake" when they see one for the first time.

And you can see their eyes very, very clearly - they're beautiful. They tend to be a coppery pink colour although some apparently can be blue or heavily spotted, I've never seen one like this.

But they're not necessarily big, as they take a few years to reach adult size, so you'll often come across babies as little as a few centimetres long. I think if you think these things are worms, they probably are. They're not kind of flattish and wide are they? I think flatworms are quite big and they're not good...aliens (NZ?) but I can't remember what they actually do.

You do get some *huge* earthworms though so I wouldn't rule them out.

hils



Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 568
Location: Nottingham
PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 05 9:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

oh!

didn't realise they had eyes etc!
Must just have some gigantic worms then!

Cheers guys

H

hils



Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 568
Location: Nottingham
PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 05 9:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Bugs wrote:
e. They're not kind of flattish and wide are they? I think flatworms are quite big and they're not good...aliens (NZ?) but I can't remember what they actually do.

You do get some *huge* earthworms though so I wouldn't rule them out.


aaah I do remember them having quite flat heads - I'm going to have to go on a worm hunt after work now! I'll take my camera.....

ButteryHOLsomeness



Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 05 9:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

hils wrote:
oh!

didn't realise they had eyes etc!
Must just have some gigantic worms then!

Cheers guys

H


you may have nightcrawlers (that's what they're called in the states, may have a different name here)

nightcrawlers are often cut up and used as bait when fishing. they are very plump, very long worms...

hils



Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 568
Location: Nottingham
PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 05 9:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I hope they are nightcrawlers (people get arrested in Nottingham for that btw!)

ButteryHOLsomeness



Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 05 9:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

hils wrote:
I hope they are nightcrawlers (people get arrested in Nottingham for that btw!)


i thought that was kerbcrawlers

guess they're called something else here

hils



Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 568
Location: Nottingham
PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 05 9:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

They're a strange breed here (I'm not a native!)

They call horses bobbo's??? eh? and they have a passion for shooting each other

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 05 10:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

hils wrote:


aaah I do remember them having quite flat heads - I'm going to have to go on a worm hunt after work now! I'll take my camera.....


The heads are kind of flat and arrow shaped. Nasty, nasty little blighters if you're an earthworm.

gavin



Joined: 10 Feb 2005
Posts: 93
Location: Leeds, W Yorks
PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 05 11:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Any help? https://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/insects.htm

All best - Gavin

Bugs



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 05 11:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

That's a good site Gavin, is it yours? We should have it in the weblinks.

hils



Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 568
Location: Nottingham
PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 05 3:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thanks for that gavin - def not a flatworm!
Must just be really big earth worms. I guess thats a good thing on my awful clay soil.

Silas



Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 6848
Location: Staffordshire
PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 05 4:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If they got eyes they aint earthworms!

I wouldn't use them for fishing bait either!

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 05 4:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

hils wrote:
Thanks for that gavin - def not a flatworm!
Must just be really big earth worms. I guess thats a good thing on my awful clay soil.


Awful clay soil... Nottingham...

Chillwell?

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