Yahoo Lifestyle Aussies horrified by metre-long, giant worms appearing in their backyards after wet summer
They look like the stuff of nightmares, but an expert has revealed where these huge worms are really coming from.
In scenes reminiscent of a 90s horror movie Aussies have been astonished to discover huge, often metre-long creatures invading their gardens after a wet summer.
Queenslanders from across the state have been sharing their impressive discoveries in often confronting photos online, but an expert told Yahoo News Australia these worms have always been around, living deep underground and some individuals could be up to 20 years old.
Aussie wildlife photographer Austin Stevens wrote online: “Recent heavy rain on our property caused the emergence of a creature that we had never seen before. I noticed it when its head began to poke out of the grass and we were astonished to discover the animal was approximately 40 centimetres long and nearly two centimetres wide.”
In a photo shared by Stevens, two hands are holding a giant earthworm.
While in Hervey Bay, another local had discovered one even longer.
“Anyone seen a worm this big?” the man asked Facebook users, alongside a photo of a creature next to a pile of flowers. “Over one metre long,” he added.
Other residents were quick to jump in and share their experiences with the worms. “My pool floor was covered with them last week,” someone said. “I found one marooned in the middle of a backyard patio area,” another wrote. “I was astonished. I thought it was a snake at first!”
While fellow users commented in horror. “Creepy!” one person said. “Have you seen the movie Tremors? Might be time to move,” wrote another. "Heart skips a beat or two when you step over them, before you realise they aren't a snake," a third remarked. Someone else added: “Imagine the size of the hook you need for that worm, and the size of the fish you’ll catch!”
Others said the people that found them were "lucky". "[They're] making good soil for you."
Where are the worms coming from?
While Australia “has some big worms,” there is a special species found in southeastern Queensland called Longman’s giant earthworm, according to Dr Phillip Barton, Associate Professor of Zoology at Deakin University.
“This species can be two centimetres wide and up to a metre long! They hatch from eggs as ‘small’ but already fully formed worms a few centimetres long. They grow in length by adding segments to their rear end, and can live for many years. The biggest worms might be up to 20 years old.”
However, it’s not the biggest. “The best known giant earthworm is the Gippsland giant earthworm in eastern Victoria which can reach over two metres, perhaps up to three metres!”
Why are we seeing giant worms now?
Well, it’s got a lot to do with the weather.
“These giant earthworms have emerged after heavy rain,” Barton said. “They live in permanent burrows deep underground and are very rarely seen except after wet weather when their burrows flood. They breathe through their skin and flooded burrows can become low in oxygen, so they come to the surface after heavy rains, often at night.”
So, despite the surprise of locals discovering them for the first time, these creatures have always been there and they’ve always been able to reach such great lengths.
Barton said residents should be careful not to damage their reclusive neighbours.
“They are quite delicate and can easily break if stretched,” Barton added, saying they’re only found in areas with deep moist soils.
“Sometimes it’s possible to hear the worms ‘squelching’ underground as they move through their burrows. They feed by swallowing soil and the organic matter it contains like plant roots, decaying leaves and fungi.”
And while there seems to be plenty of people online who have seen them lately, it’s not that common to come across one, according to Barton.
“Finding a giant earthworm is very rare, so people should count themselves lucky! If you find one, be sure to return it from where you found it and cover it with some moist leaves so it can go back to doing what it does best in the soil.”
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