Finding a velvet worm in the wild

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VelvetWorm

Arachnopeon
Joined
Nov 9, 2018
Messages
7
I posted a comment about this yesterday in a thread started last year by AbraxasComplex. Thanks to the person who expressed their optimism! I too am optimistic that the velvet worm found in my backyard will survive. This morning I placed it near the river, next to a fallen log and under lots of damp leaves. I don't know what more I could have done for the little guy. I hope it was enough.

It's possible that I might find more velvet worms as I continue working in my back yard. Eventually the entire lawn will be dug up in preparation for replanting with more beneficial species than what are there now. I could move any worms I find to an area that I'm not working in yet, but in a couple of months there won't be any undisturbed areas.

So I'm hoping that people who know more about these little creatures than I do might offer some advice about how to go about relocating them to give them the best chance for survival. Things to avoid/things to look for when finding them a new habitat, how to handle them (or how to move them without handling them), anything that might be helpful.

A few specific questions that I've had: Will they eat pill bugs? How about rhinoceros beetle grubs? I have found a few of those in the soil too. Also, do they prefer certain types of leaf matter in their habitat? Any leaf types that might be toxic to them?
 
Polenth

Polenth

Arachnobaron
Joined
Sep 29, 2018
Messages
459
It sounds like you're keeping it as a garden rather than paving it over, so I'd just move any critters to a bit that's already been done or you're not planning to dig for a few days. They'll move out if they don't like it, but they'll move back in once everything's ready for them. Moving them somewhere else entirely is likely to be more stressful than just letting them move on their own.
 
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VelvetWorm

Arachnopeon
Joined
Nov 9, 2018
Messages
7
Polenth said:
It sounds like you're keeping it as a garden rather than paving it over, so I'd just move any critters to a bit that's already been done or you're not planning to dig for a few days. They'll move out if they don't like it, but they'll move back in once everything's ready for them. Moving them somewhere else entirely is likely to be more stressful than just letting them move on their own.
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Thanks for your reply!

I thought about just moving it to another area of the yard, but it's a small yard as it is and soon half of it will be covered in black plastic to smother the invasive weeds and then dug up after two months to remove stones and buried building debris. The rest will be dug up a time or two and will also possibly be covered with plastic after. (I'm dealing with at least two types of extremely invasive weeds; it requires an aggressive approach to rid the soil of them.) I'll keep your suggestion in mind, though... maybe I can designate a corner as a "worm refuge" and leave it mostly undisturbed until the very end. I have no idea if I'll find more velvet worms, but if I do I want to do what I can to relocate them safely.
 
schmiggle

schmiggle

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 3, 2013
Messages
2,220
I am so jealous that you have enough velvet worms where you live that they're almost becoming a nuisance. I swear I should just pick up and move to Ecuador.

:pics:《me holding a postcard from my happy move to Ecuador.
 
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VelvetWorm

Arachnopeon
Joined
Nov 9, 2018
Messages
7
schmiggle said:
I am so jealous that you have enough velvet worms where you live that they're almost becoming a nuisance. I swear I should just pick up and move to Ecuador.

:pics:《me holding a postcard from my happy move to Ecuador.
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:-D I would LOVE to find more velvet worms! Two days ago I had no idea that they existed and now I want to know all about them. I'll update if any more show themselves. I don't think it's likely, but here's hoping!
 
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Cresto

Arachnopeon
Joined
Oct 21, 2018
Messages
39
Greasylake said:
Do you have the money to go through the importation process legally? I can assure you, it takes a long time and it's expensive.
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I am currently researching how to go about it(never imported any live animals before). But I am still trying to find out where to signup for an import permit.
 
Greasylake

Greasylake

Arachnoprince
Joined
Jul 23, 2017
Messages
1,321
Cresto said:
I am currently researching how to go about it(never imported any live animals before). But I am still trying to find out where to signup for an import permit.
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Contact fish and wildlife. They are the ones you would have to work with through the import process.
 
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