Where have all the earthworms gone? I've only seen 2. Thought the rains might bring them out. And then I read that there are invasive, toxic worms in Texas called Hammerhead flatworms. They are known predators of earthworms and they live in DFW and other areas of Texas. So now I'm wondering if they're the reason I'm not seeing earthworms in my garden. However, I don't think I've seen one of these hammerhead flatworms as their body is "snake-like" being up to 15 inches long (usually 8-12 inches) and I assume recognizable (eww ick) But just because I haven't seen one doesn't mean they're not around.

So can anyone think of other less icky reasons why my garden is lacking earthworms? I've definitely had earthworms in the past.

Here's a link to the Texas Invasive Species Institute if anyone cares to know more about these worm eating worms.
http://www.tsusinvasives.org/h...

So far, there are no paper wasps here this year. Weren't very many last year, but this year I've only had one red wasp try to nest in one of the gourd houses. Not close to normal. It's been warm enough for them to be out and building nests everywhere.

Earthworms by thousands, no planarian here, and they are normal near the coastal areas.



Red wasps - we have killed and knocked down a dozen nests, but the last 2 were in the bottom of the Dynatrap while it is on, and hidden under window awnings today.

They were slow to show up down here this year, so give them a month and they are apt to show up in masses.

A tour thru the garden, from none to overwhelming and time to make their area 'unpalatable' again
Cukes



Tomatoes



Mustard greens





Kentucky Colonel spearmint even



Tabasco pepper visitor.

Those 2 weeks of gray days and just enough rain each day made the bugs grow I seriously believe. Time to switch gears and get back after the single minded munchers

There's been few earthworms here for years. I'm hoping they'll recover a bit from the recent rains.

Haven't seen any earthworms - but I just posted these in the 'other garden guest' forum.
New fawn

Frisky anoles

Black buzzard

I have 2 crows every morning cruising the yard and they are picking up something, worms, grasshoppers, I cheer them on! and always the cardinals have a territory they are claiming for earthworms. I think it helps we switched our mower blades to mulchers last fall.