Facts About Earthworms & Red Worms for Children
Redworms are among the thousands of species of earthworms. The confusing fact is that there are a couple of worm species commonly called redworms. There are species of earthworms that live on the land (terrestrial) and in the water (aquatic). There are three different classifications for earthworms that live on the ground - litter dwellers (epigeic), shallow soil dwellers (endogeic) and deep burrowers (anecic). Litter dwellers, like redworms, are commonly used in compost bins.
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Earthworms
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Common earthworms can grow up to 14 inches. Common earthworms, generally called night crawlers, are the ones most people find crawling around on the ground after rainfall. This type of earthworm originally came from Europe, but now can be found throughout North America and even in western Asia. Though commonly called earthworm, that name is the blanket term for all worms that live on the earth. Common earthworms grow to a few inches in length, but there are species of earthworms that can grow to be up to 14 inches long.
Redworms
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Eisenia foetida and lumbricus rubellus are species of redworms. They are often referred to as red wigglers or redworms. These are terrestrial worms often used in composting bins.
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Composting with Worms
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Compost is used when planting flowers and gardens. It helps enrich the soil. Worms are used in composting because they eat food waste and the worm manure is a nutrient rich substance which helps plants grow. Composting consists of putting worms in a bin with shredded newspaper and other biodegradable materials. Leftover food scraps then get tossed in.
Other Worm Facts
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Worms have no lungs, they actually breathe through their skin. Each worm can consume about half its own weight in food every day. Worms have both male and female parts. It is a myth that a worm cut in half can regenerate its lost part. In fact, the only way they will heal is if only a small part has been cut off. A worm cut in half will just die.
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References
- Photo Credit Steve Baccon/Digital Vision/Getty Images Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
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CAUTION IN BUYING THESE WORMS, Eisenia foetida, or"European Night crawlers."are non native worms. Eisenia foetida, or"European Night crawlers."are non native worms, This is why we. with any non-native species, it is important not to allow them to reach the wild. Their voracious appetites and reproductive rates (especially among the red wigglers) have been known to upset the delicate balance of the hardwood forests by consuming the leaf litter too quickly. This event leaves too little leaf letter to slowly incubate the hard shelled nuts and leads to excessive erosion as well as negatively affecting the pH of the soil. So, do your best to keep them confined! Note We sell a Florida Red Worm that is native to Florida. WE DO NOT SELL. Eisenia foetida, or"European Night crawlers."are non native worms, Note We sell a Florida Red Worm that is native to Florida. Hongkongwillie Eisenia foetida From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Eisenia fetida, known under various common names, including redworms, brandling worms, tiger worms and red wiggler worms, are a species of earthworm adapted to decaying organic material. They thrive in rotting vegetation, compost, and manure; they are epigeal. They are rarely found in soil, instead like Lumbricus rubellus they prefer conditions where other worms cannot survive. They are used for vermicomposting. They are native to Europe, but have been introduced (both intentionally and unintentionally) to every other continent except Antarctica, occasionally threatening native species.
