How Do Red Worms Reproduce?

Mucous Secreted

Earthworms have both male and female reproductive organs that are sexually mature at the age of 8 to 10 weeks. To begin mating, they lie beside each other, facing opposite directions and secrete a mucous substance that causes their bodies to stick together.

Sperm and Eggs Exchanged

Each worm exchanges sperm delivered to pores on the skin near the clitellum (an engorged area about an inch below the worm's head). Each worm then releases eggs that travel into pores on its own skin close to the sperm pore. The worms separate and secrete more mucous around the clitellum. This mucous dries into a hard, circular band.

Cocoons Are Produced

The worms start to wriggle out of the dried mucous band which, as it moves, picks up the sperm and eggs on its viscous underside. Once the worms are fully free of the mucous band, the end of it seals. This becomes the cocoon in which fertilization takes place.

Incubation Period

The incubation period for red worms is between 32 and 73 days. Sexually mature red worms can lay up to three cocoons per week. One or two worms will be born from each cocoon. With optimum feeding, moisture and temperature conditions, a colony of red worms can double its size within three to four months. The average red worm lives for 15 months and can mate for the majority of its life.

Resources

• Happy D Ranch
• USDA: Soil Biology