Little Smelly Worms

[fincalospinos]

Since the weather has become damper i have noticed some small worms around the garden ( and even one in the shower), that give off a pungent, chemical smell. they are about 3cm long, 2mm wide, dark grey/black in colour, and tend to curl up. Can anyone tell me what they are, and more importantly, the best way to control them.

[katy]

Have you got a septic tank? When my parents had one we used to get lots at certain times near to where the tank was. They used to curl up and used to go brittle. Don't know what they were though.

[fincalospinos]

Hi Katy, we do have a sceptic tank but it is well away from the house. It does sound the same though, these little devils do go brittle. They only appear when the weather goes damp, not in the summer.

[Lorraine - Mijas]

Back on the subject of worms, I get the odd ones, on the terrace, no septic tank as it's just an average gf terrace. Can't say I'd noticed they where smelly though but then again I don't get down on the ground and sniff them

[Guest]

Ladies and Nevada, I too have wondered who this legendary Fellow is (we are, are we not assuming it's a man), anyway, it's for sure not me, I'm not that clever, and before you poo poo my comment let's remember no one has unmasked him yet, it could be anyone, even Beachcomber, although I strongly doubt that!
For your interest and I know that most ladies like to know as much as they can about almost everyone (except their husbands that is) I will give you the full rundown:
My given name is Raymond Kim, my parents moved to Carmel California in the sixties, dragging me , not unnaturally, with them.
I was educated in various schools in Carmel and LA. I graduated from high school in 1973 and spent 1 year in France working on a farm and trying my damdest to get the farmers daughter to go skin to skin with me, modesty forbids me from announcing my success rate! on returning to LA I studied law at the South western university school of law, Los Angeles and graduated Summa *beep* Lauda in 1980.
I worked for several law practices gaining experience and being generally abused until I landed a job with Goldberg Scott, who have offices all over the states, in the year 2000 I was offered a job with Greenberg Traurig, for whom I still work 4 days a week, one day a week is given over to pro bono work, I specialise in litigation and criminal defense and consider myself a decent chap, I am not That legedary fellow Top per nor do I have any inkling who it could be, I have looked for some common threads but can't find one, if anyone unmasks him please inform me immediately as he may need a sturdy defense!

[katy]

Back to the worms, I was thinking about the ones we had (sad person that I am) and it when when it rained they used to appear. We could never find out where they came from but they were always present on the outside terrace, near to the septic tank. The tiles were old spanish ones (about 5 times the thickness of todays tiles) so, do you have old tiles? Also is the soil sandy? Our garden went onto the sand dunes so my Mum said it was that but my brother said it was **** eaters who lived in the tank. When we were kids he used to throw them in my hair.

[fincalospinos]

These little critters appear on all surfaces, old tiles and newer ones, but I must add that we are not on sandy soil, and our septic tank is nearly 500 mtrs away from the house. The smell from them is more noticeable if you tread on them.
They seem more prolific this year than in the past, and I am wondering whether a drier summer may be the reason.
Still trying to identify them.

[nevada smith]

mr admin man,
while i can understand you might have removed my
"summa c.u.m. laude" question of breaker's bio sketch
because it didn't follow the, "little smelly worms" thread
i certainly can't understand why the "bio" remains -
or... do you know something we don't...

[bunty]

Most interested if someone can identify these worms.

Two years ago my flat was invaded with them and I am on the top floor.

Couldnt even leave a window open because I would find them everywhere inside.

The worst was if I
managed to tred on them as they are hard and give off this awful smell.Que asco!!

I even picked the dead ones up to analyse them and to me they looked like small centipedes each one having lots of legs.

My flat is new and there are no septic tanks around so I dont think they are to be blamed.

Must say that this year I have only seen the odd one or two.

Though instead of worms there is an invasion of rats in the drains around my building.

So far they have managed to chew through the phone lines and have also broken some wiring inside my car!

I wonder what the next invasion of animals will be?

[keddyboy]

How about Lemmings diving off your balcony into the Communial pool!!!!!

[keddyboy]

Seriously Bunty, sounds like your problem is wood lice, like mini aramdillos with lots of legs. I dont think worms have legs but I am sure someone knows of one. Wood lice thrive on anything and are attracted by both warmth and water. They are not destructive and dont bite. Use a strong disinfectant for a few days and the chances are that they might not be able to hold their breath any longer and move on.

[Bongtrees]

Since the weather has become damper i have noticed some small worms around the garden ( and even one in the shower), that give off a pungent, chemical smell. they are about 3cm long, 2mm wide, dark grey/black in colour, and tend to curl up. Can anyone tell me what they are, and more importantly, the best way to control them.

Spanish call them gusano (worm!) they live underground and only come out when it rains. You cannot control them, avoid treading on them. Tend to be in countryside more than town.

Mike