A viral video clip of China raining worms, what looks like earthworms scattered across cars and roads in Liaoning, has been causing confusion and curiosity among people worldwide.
While some social media users have suggested that the “worm rain” was actually poplar flowers, others are not ruling out the possibility of earthworms falling from the sky during heavy rain and strong winds, known as “earthworm rain.” This unusual event serves as a reminder of the strange and unexpected events that can happen in nature.
China raining worms: Is it real?
Residents of Liaoning, a province in China, were left bewildered by a peculiar occurrence that forced them to seek shelter. In what can only be described as a bizarre phenomenon, worm-like creatures or objects fell from the sky, causing alarm and confusion among the citizens. Footage of the incident shows earthworms scattered across cars and streets while people used umbrellas to shield themselves from the “worm rain.”
Scientific journal Mother Nature Network offers a possible explanation for the incident, stating that heavy winds could have swept up the worms and dropped them throughout the city. Insects caught in whirlpools during a storm could result in such occurrences, according to the journal.
Breaking: China citizens told to find shelter after it looked like it started to rain worms.
pic.twitter.com/oTu4t4u86v— Antonio Sabato Jr (@AntonioSabatoJr) March 11, 2023
In the midst of the confusion and concern sparked by the “worm rain” in Liaoning, China, some social media users have put forward an alternative theory. Rather than earthworms falling from the sky, they suggest that what actually rained down on the city were poplar flowers.
Fake News！The things that fall from poplar trees in spring are not caterpillars, but inflorescences of poplar trees. When poplar flower spikes start to fall, it means that they are about to bloom.
春天从杨树上掉落的东西不是毛毛虫，而是杨树花序，杨树花穗开始掉落后，说明要开花了。 pic.twitter.com/8FLy4CV3D6— 笋初🍀🌻💤 (@Vxujianing) March 11, 2023
The resemblance between the poplar blooms and earthworms could be the cause of the confusion, as some users on Twitter pointed out. “These are not worms or animals, but flower stalks dropped from trees,” said one user. Another user clarified that “When poplar flower spikes start to fall, it means that they are about to bloom.”
While the mystery of China raining worms may have been solved, the incident still serves as a reminder of the strange and unexpected events that nature can sometimes bring.
While social media users have suggested that the “worm rain” in Liaoning was actually poplar flowers, others are not ruling out the possibility of earthworms falling from the sky. Despite being rare, it is not impossible for a phenomenon called “earthworm rain” to occur during a downpour, as one user on Twitter pointed out.
The explanation is that strong winds can lift earthworms into the clouds, where they can travel long distances before falling back to the ground with the rain. While it may not be the case in Liaoning, the idea of a “worm rain” is not entirely out of the realm of possibility.
Interestingly, a similar bizarre event occurred in Florida in December, where iguanas were thought to be falling from trees due to colder temperatures. According to the New York Post, the reptiles become stiff and tumble to the ground when temperatures drop, causing them to rain down from trees. Nature, as always, is full of surprises.