Can Worms and Earthworms Die? (Interesting Facts)

Often, we see worms live through rotting vegetation and even carcasses. While it may seem disgusting for us, it can be a source of nutrition for worms. With such an odd way of living, you may even wonder if they can die. Thus, it begs the question:

Can worms and earthworms die? Like all other living organisms, worms and earthworms can die. In fact, these animals only have a short lifespan of four years. When they die, they decompose, and other worms recycle them. One of the things that cause their death is their castings since it’s toxic for them.

Since worms are usually in unattractive places, you may associate them with death. Thus, you may think these animals live forever. However, it’s not the case, and they may survive less than you thought.

If you want to know more about this matter, read on. In this article, we’ll tackle more about worms and everything related to their death.

Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Do worms live forever?

Worms don’t live forever. In fact, they have a short lifespan of around four years.

Still, some kinds of worms may have the ability to do so since they regenerate constantly.

For instance, flatworms can maintain the length of a crucial part of their DNA. Thus, as they regenerate, they keep their bodies and identity.

Of course, that only goes as far as the study goes, and the research itself hasn’t proved it yet.

If you look at a typical earthworm, these are the ones that live on a short lifespan. Nevertheless, they reproduce fast, which may seem like they don’t die.

However, in general, all living organisms end their life at some point.

Related: Do Worms and Earthworms Feel Pain?

What causes worms to die?

The death of worms usually happens when they get disoriented as they get lost in a dry area.

Worms usually find their way to the surface and go into a dry place, but they may find it difficult to go back.

As worms do so, they often get disoriented. Thus, they lose their ability to find their way back to the soil.

Such instances happen, and they quickly get disoriented since they only have light and dark receptors. Further, worms don’t have eyes to see, and they only feel vibrations better underground.

Thus, if their stay on the surface gets prolonged, they can get disoriented and stop their actions, eventually drying out and dying.

Can worms die of old age?

Like other animals, worms can also die of old age. However, they can regenerate, unlike other animals.

Most animals gradually tend to lose their abilities as they age. It causes aging, or they get older, to put it simply. In such stages, they stop functioning like before, eventually leading to death.

While worms are not an exception, they do regenerate dead cells. For instance, flatworms can not only regenerate dead cells. They can also grow a new brain, gut, and tail.

Also Read: Can Worms and Earthworms Drown?

How long is the life span of a worm?

The lifespan of a worm can take up to four years. However, that’s quite rare.

At birth, earthworms and other worms emerge small but fully formed. They lack only the sex structures, and such only develops in 60 to 90 days.

Worms reach their full size in about a year or less. Experts say that worms can get four to eight years on average. However, their life depends on the quality of their environment.

On the other hand, a typical garden worm usually lives only within a year or two.

Do worms die if you cut them in half?

Worms may or may not die if you cut them in half. Still, remember that while they may live, they don’t turn into two more worms.

If you see someone cutting a worm in half, stop it since it hurts the animal. Although worms don’t have a complex nervous system, it’s still enough to register pain.

Thus, worms may continue to survive if you cut them in half. However, in most circumstances, they would likely die.

Some people think that worms become two when you cut them in half. Although worms may survive the cut, only the part with the head may survive.

Still, the fact remains that it hurts worms when you cut them in half, so don’t do it.

How long can you keep worms alive?

Worms can live for as long as four to eight years. When worms die in the bin, their bodies decompose, and other worms will work on recycling them along with food scraps.

If you look at a typical earthworm, these are the ones that live on a short lifespan. Nevertheless, they reproduce fast, which may seem like they don’t die.

Worms reach their full size in about a year or less. Experts say that worms can get four to eight years on average. However, their life depends on the quality of their environment.

On the other hand, a typical garden worm usually lives only within a year or two.

What do you do with dead worms?

In general, you don’t need to do anything with dead worms. If they die a natural death, they will decompose, and other worms would recycle them.

However, if you think the worm died due to the place, you may want to transfer the other worms to a new bin since they may get poisoned.

For this reason, keep another bin around and available in case of emergencies like this one.

Why do worms crawl on the sidewalk and die?

Worms crawl on the sidewalk and die because they dry out as they get disoriented.

The thing is, oxygen diffuses quickly through the air. Thus, the soil stays aerobic because oxygen comes in from the surface.

While this case isn’t a problem for worms, it may be when it rains. Since the rain fills the pores and caves with water, they can’t get enough oxygen.

It’s also the reason why worms come out after the rain. The thing is, the worms easily get disoriented as they reach the surface.

Since worms only have light and dark receptors, they get disoriented on the surface. Further, worms don’t have eyes to see, and they only feel vibrations better underground.

Thus, if their stay on the surface gets prolonged, they can get disoriented and stop their actions, eventually drying out and dying.

Why do worms kill themselves?

Worms don’t kill themselves; it just seems like they do because they feel disoriented.

The worms can’t get enough oxygen when the ground receives too much water. For this reason, they get forced to come to the surface to get some air.

Once the worms are out, the scene becomes unfamiliar with them. In short, the sudden change in environment disorients them.

As they feel such, they try to slither onto the pavement once it stops raining. Eventually, worms end up drying their skin and suffocating, causing death.

Summary

Like all other living organisms, worms and earthworms can die. In fact, these animals only have a short lifespan of four to eight years.

When worms die, they decompose, and other worms recycle them. One of the things that cause their death is their castings since it’s toxic for them. Other instances happen when they come to the surface.

In general, worms may seem like they kill themselves. However, in reality, they just feel disoriented on the surface, eventually drying out and suffocating.

Resources

Image credits – Canva