Mystery Worms Invade Northwest China
Seemingly part of the special effects of a bad horror movie, an invasion of long, thorny, green worms with black stripes (ugh) in northwest China has forced the evacuation of some 50 herdsmen and their families from their grassland homes.
The species of worm is unknown and samples of the 2-centimeter (1-inch) long critters have been sent to Xinjiang Agricultural University for further study.
Farmers have fled the worst plague to befall this area in three decades, taking some 20,000 head of livestock with them. The affected section lies in northwest China’s Xinjiang region, which is about 175 miles west of the Xinjiang capital, Urumqi.
News reports claim that these worms are packed up to 3,000 per square meter and chew through the grass like hungry lawnmowers, leaving only brown soil in their wake.
“The pasture was green a week ago. But now the worms are creeping around, and they even come into my house. I have to sweep them out several times an hour,” one herdsman told the press.
Locusts have ravaged the area over the years, and chickens, ducks and other birds were able to effectively ward them off. They too pose an enormous menace to the grasslands, but none of the natural locust predators have indicated any liking for the annoying, unpalatable and very ugly worms.
Most unsettling is the fact that these worms are an unknown alien species and no one knows why or how they appeared. One local official speculated that they might be moth larvae that have thrived in the plentiful rains of the relatively warm winter weather.
One thing is certain. The current situation presented to authorities in this region truly represents the opening of one gigantic….can of worms!
(Link)
By MDeeDubroff on 14-06-2009
Comment by Uli
June 14th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
The end is nigh!
Killer worms take over china and will nuke the rest of us back to the stone age!
PS: FIRST!
Comment by Punnery Committee
June 15th, 2009 at 8:12 am
The writer of this story is hereby awarded 1 (one) demerit for Bad Punnery of the Gravest Depth for the "can of worms" remark. This demerit carries with it the award of 1 (one) Free Internet for an act of Severe Win in which you ACTUALLY WENT THERE. Well done.
Comment by Uncle B
June 15th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Grind them up for bio-diesel, use the sludge for fertilizer, laugh at the bonus nature has sent you!
Comment by M Dee Dubroff
June 15th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Thanks Punnery Committee-
I accept my demerit with humility and a chuckle…
Comment by M Dee Dubroff
June 15th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Uncle B
Great idea!!!
Comment by M Dee Dubroff
June 15th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Who knows? maybe you are right.
Comment by pacat
June 15th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
There is a lot of protein.Grind them ,fry them up for a crispy snack.Who knows,we might enjoy a good grilled worm burger.People have been known to eat worse things.
Comment by Kat
June 15th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
I sure hope we don't get cursed with something like that here in the US. I'll stick to my weenie's-n-cheese, please.
Comment by Anon
June 16th, 2009 at 9:10 am
"Most unsettling is the fact that these worms are an unknown alien species and no one knows why or how they appeared."
The first thing that came to mind were the Zerg from Starcraft. x_x"
Comment by Harrr
June 16th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
There must be a hive somewhere and those are it's larvae! Soon they'll each spawn into zerglings and then we'll be in trouble….
Comment by Hater of Zerglings
June 20th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Arghhh.,,Not another zerg rush!
Comment by pariah
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:49 pm
There was/has been a similar situation in Hunan where they were overrun by rats due to a disruption by a dam. The Chinese addressed the problem with brilliance. They round/ed up the rats and sell/sold them for food. Worms are likewise a part of the Chinese pallet. They are also used in Traditional Medicine. Make no mistake, someone will capitalize on this horror.
Comment by Philena Rush
July 14th, 2009 at 1:46 am
They need to figure out how to train these worms. They could help ploy fields for miles.