What are these earthworms doing on my banana bush?
Banana None Given
In one banana tree out of many I found what appears to be earthworms in the crotch of the base of the leaf next to the tree..where water collects. It also has a large amount of worm castings, which I have found on other trees as well...but this is the only one with the worms present.
The worms are about 4 feet above the ground on this tree, but castings are found on much taller trees.
Apologies for the poor quality of the pictures.
My questions:
1) Are they harming the trees? Many of the trees exhibit symptoms of disease (fungus?) in which the leaves yellow and the tree dies prematurely. Any conncetion?
2) How do these worms get up in the tree? Are they able to stay in the tree somehow from the time it is at ground level?
The worms are about 4 feet above the ground on this tree, but castings are found on much taller trees.
Apologies for the poor quality of the pictures.
My questions:
1) Are they harming the trees? Many of the trees exhibit symptoms of disease (fungus?) in which the leaves yellow and the tree dies prematurely. Any conncetion?
2) How do these worms get up in the tree? Are they able to stay in the tree somehow from the time it is at ground level?
Apparently earthworms in banana leaf base
Apparently earthworms in banana leaf base
Posted
by: James Stith
(1 point)
Posted: December 21, 2016
Answers
1) Are they harming the trees? Many of the trees exhibit symptoms of disease (fungus?) in which the leaves yellow and the tree dies prematurely. Any conncetion?
Earthworms eat soil fragments that contain organic matter. If they have fungal spores on their body they could track them, but if you have fungal infection then I suspect the spores are arriving with rain or wind.
If you have fungal infected leaves then send pictures of that
2) How do these worms get up in the tree? Are they able to stay in the tree somehow from the time it is at ground level?
Who knows! They must climb.
Earthworms eat soil fragments that contain organic matter. If they have fungal spores on their body they could track them, but if you have fungal infection then I suspect the spores are arriving with rain or wind.
If you have fungal infected leaves then send pictures of that
2) How do these worms get up in the tree? Are they able to stay in the tree somehow from the time it is at ground level?
Who knows! They must climb.
Posted
by: David Hughes
(67 points)
Posted: December 21, 2016
James Stith commented,
Climbing earthworms..that would be a sight to see..and what would motivate them to leave their cozy underground havens in the first place.. I am thinking they get into the tree as little wormletts at ground level somehow...someone must know. Leaf pictures noted with thanks. Will do. over 7 years ago.
Climbing earthworms..that would be a sight to see..and what would motivate them to leave their cozy underground havens in the first place.. I am thinking they get into the tree as little wormletts at ground level somehow...someone must know. Leaf pictures noted with thanks. Will do. over 7 years ago.
David Hughes commented,
they are likely moving between the overlapping leaves. So, essentially they are pushing their way up. Is the soil wet. They may be escaping waterlogged soil over 7 years ago.
they are likely moving between the overlapping leaves. So, essentially they are pushing their way up. Is the soil wet. They may be escaping waterlogged soil over 7 years ago.
James Stith commented,
That sounds right...they can get traction if they are beteen leaves..but still hard to visualize the movement. Yes, the soil is wet..we are entering the dry season so I will watch for changes. Thanks over 7 years ago.
That sounds right...they can get traction if they are beteen leaves..but still hard to visualize the movement. Yes, the soil is wet..we are entering the dry season so I will watch for changes. Thanks over 7 years ago.
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state where you are over 7 years ago.