What are the twelve-hearts of Mississippi?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

April 3, 2002

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In Oklahoma, the practice was called "charming". In the Florida panhandle, it is called "grunting". In other places, the art consisted of "thumping". Somewhere, a long time ago, people figured out they could call earthworms to the surface.

Charles Darwin theorized the earthworms may interpret the vibration
as a predator and escape to the surface.
Earth Worm in Its Burrow Photographic Print David M. Dennis
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Charming used two green wood stakes rubbed to set up a vibration. For grunting, a stake is driven into the soil and vibrated using a piece of flat metal. Thumping required soaking the soil and then slapping it with the back of a shovel. When the correct frequency is found, the earthworms rise to the surface.

Charles Darwin theorized the earthworms may interpret the vibration as a predator and escape to the surface. Others think the worms come to the pounding of heavy rain. Still others believe the vibration is simply an irritant.

The Apalachicola National Forest area has probably the longest continuous history of grunting for earthworms. The particular beast grunted for is called the twelve-hearts of Mississippi (Diplocardia mississippiensis), a favorite of fishermen. It is only now that ecologists are coming to understand the importance of twelve-hearts.

Red cockaded woodpecker on a tree trunk
Raymond Gehman
A photographer for ''National Geographic'' for over 20 years, Raymond Gehman gorgeously depicts both the astounding and the ordinary. Also an editor of the magazine, Gehman was inspired by a ''National Geographic'' photographer who visited his school when he was nine, making him want to be a photographer, too. Saying that photography is special because everyone sees the world differently, Gehman enjoys catching ''the little weird details'' in his work. A resident of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, Gehman also lectures and judges photo contests.
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The mineral soils of Florida are generally nutrient-poor sands. Twelve-hearts are nutrient recyclers, consuming the debris on the forest floor making the nutrients readily available to the pines (Pinus palustris) and palmettos (Serenoa repens) that dominate the habitat. Nutrient cycling does not just benefit the plant life.

Twelve-hearts has a calciferous gland that absorbs calcium from the surrounding soil. The gland forms the calcium into nodules; these pass to the earthworm's gizzard where they act to grind food. The abundance of the calcium-rich worms appears linked to the breeding success of the endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers (Picoides borealis) which need the calcium for egg laying.

International Federation of Charming Worms and Allied Pastimes has photographs from 2005's World Worm Charming Championships. To view the photograph and learn more, click on the link:

http://www.wormcharming.com/index.html

The National Wildlife Federation has information on the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. To learn more about this fascinating bird, click on the link:

Click here to learn more about this fascinating bird

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