does one earth worm really become two living earth worms if you chop it in half?

Question

- by accident with a spade when gardening of course

Answer 1

Earthworms have the facility to replace or replicate lost segments, but this ability varies between species and depends on the extent of the damage. Stephenson (1930) devoted a chapter of his great monograph to this topic, while G.E. Gates spent 10 years studying regeneration in a variety of species, but “because little interest was shown”, Gates (1972) only published a few of his findings that, nevertheless, show it is theoretically possible to grow two whole worms from a bisected specimen in certain species. Gates’s reports included:

* Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826) with head regeneration, in an anterior direction, possible at each intersegmental level back to and including 23/24, while tails were regenerated at any levels behind 20/21.
* Lumbricus terrestris Linneus, 1758 replacing anterior segments from as far back as 13/14 and 16/17 but tail regeneration was never found.
* Perionyx excavatus Perrier, 1872 readily regenerated lost parts of the body, in an anterior direction from as far back as 17/18, and in a posterior direction as far forward as 20/21.
* Lampito mauritii (Kinberg, 1867) with regeneration in anterior direction at all levels back to 25/26 and tail regeneration from 30/31; head regeneration was sometimes believed to be caused by internal amputation resulting from Sarcophaga sp. larval infestation.

An unidentified Tasmanian native shown growing a second head is reported here: [1].

Answer 2

When a bird tries to pull the worm from the ground, the worm swells up pushing its bristles in the ground so firmly that the bird may only get half of the worm. The remaining half of the worm can grow the missing half back. So the bird gets a nice breakfast and the worm survives to do more good in our garden.

Answer 3

By accident or not LOL it does this funny thing and becomes x2 and if you end up growing the earthworm again and chop thosein x2 immagine if you did this is done for 50 timeshow many earthworms will you have and then you can start an earthworm farm and produce pure fertilizer and make quite a buck

Answer 4

Lee Townsend, an entomologist on the college of Kentucky, suggested there might want to be 3 motives: the hot heavy rains, mating season or acidic soils. without rain in the perfect week, this is likely it is no longer the criminal. Acidic soil is likewise not likely because the trojan horse deaths were suggested over any such huge section. "As they arrive to the exterior to pair off and mate in the spring, it is a reason that receives them up and shifting round," Townsend suggested. "The worms come out and get stuck on issues that are demanding for them to crawl for the period of, like sidewalks and driveways, and frequently the streets."

Answer 5

Yes,we get 2 living worms because earthworms each segment contains a heart.Hence,we do get as many worms as many number of pieces we make.I hope this will satisfy u.

Answer 6

As long as both segments have a heart, they will become two worms. If they don't get eaten first that is. they are very vulnerable for a little while after they are cut in half.

Answer 7

one half lives on (the side wiv the head), while the other (the tail end if you like) dies. however they both wiggle after being cut so for a short space of time you could say you had 2 worms

Answer 8

No, it has a head and a tail. The tail will die off and the head will generate a new tail providing its organs haven't been harmed. Did you know a worm has 6 hearts? (useless fact).

Answer 9

Sadly not if you lightly saute them in butter and garlic then served on a bed of spinach with a nice chianti. wana come to dinner?

Answer 10

No it doesn't but the head end actually continues to live but the tail dies.
Its a common misconception.