Top 16 Most Useful Information about Earthworms

1. Description Information

Earthworms are typically grayish-red or brown in color. They are commonly found in backyard gardens. Earthworms are native to Europe but are now abundant in nearly every corner of the world, including North America and parts of Asia.

Description Information:

• Common Name: Earthworm
• Scientific Name: Lumbricus terrestris
• Class: Invertebrate Animals
• Diet: Detritivores
• Habitat: Live in groups
• Lifespan: Up to 6 years
• Average Size: Up to approximately 35 cm
• Average Weight: Around 11 grams
• Conservation Status: Not Evaluated
• Current Population: Unknown

2. Regeneration Abilities

An intriguing characteristic of earthworms is their ability to regenerate segments of their bodies. If an earthworm is accidentally severed into two parts, each part can survive, albeit lacking the other. However, the two severed parts still belong to the same individual. Earthworms cannot naturally form two new individuals when split apart.

Earthworms possess the ability to regenerate lost segments, although this ability varies among different species. Additionally, severe injuries may prevent them from surviving. Contrary to popular belief, if an earthworm is cut in half, it will not grow into two new worms. In such cases, the anterior portion containing the head may continue to live and regenerate its posterior segment. However, the posterior half without a head cannot regenerate and will perish.

Earthworms thrive in simple living environments, typically inhabiting moist, organic-rich areas such as gardens, fields, and forests. Generally, any moist soil area can harbor earthworms, with locations abundant in organic matter fostering higher earthworm populations.

3. Characteristics

Typically, this species measures only about 7 to 8 cm in length, although some individuals can reach up to 35 cm. The body of the earthworm is divided into multiple segments with the anterior portion being the mouth. Surrounding their bodies is a layer of short, stiff hairs, aiding in movement and burrowing. They inhabit moist soil and leaves. Their bodies consist of 2 layers, with the outer layer being muscle surrounding a long digestive tract.

During burrowing, they ingest soil and nutrients extracted from decaying leaves and plant roots. Earthworms also play a crucial role in soil aeration, transporting nutrients and minerals from below to the surface through their waste. Additionally, their long burrows act like tunnels, helping aerate the soil further. Each day, an earthworm can consume food equivalent to one-third of its body weight.

Earthworms are typically nocturnal feeders. During the day, they prefer to remain hidden while performing their burrowing activities - their burrows can extend up to nearly 2 meters deep.

This species of animal lacks a backbone, belonging to the phylum Annelida, their body structure is extremely simple. Almost 100% of the earthworm's diet consists of microorganisms present in the soil. Their exterior is brown, with a slender body resembling a chopstick. Additionally, if earthworms live in an environment with abundant moss, their bodies will have a green color.

This is a hermaphroditic species with a highly unique reproductive organ. Earthworms will use their reproductive organ to mate and lay eggs. However, earthworms themselves cannot self-fertilize. Instead, each pair of earthworms will fertilize each other. Afterwards, the earthworm eggs are pure white, round in shape, and very elastic.

This creature typically measures only a few centimeters in length, though some individuals can develop up to 35 cm. The body of an earthworm is composed of segmented rings known as Annuli. These segments are covered in small hairs, aiding the earthworm in movement and burrowing. Thanks to this special ability, earthworms can live up to 2 meters deep within the soil.

The head of an earthworm contains its mouth. While burrowing, they ingest surrounding soil, absorbing nutrients from the soil, plant roots, and decomposing organic matter. Consequently, earthworms play a crucial role in agriculture, improving soil texture, aeration, drainage, nutrient cycling, soil structure, and enhancing crop yields. In a day, an earthworm can consume an amount of food equal to one-third of its body weight.

According to research by scientists, earthworms offer numerous benefits to plants and soil environments. Specifically:

• Earthworms can improve soil texture, enhancing water retention.
• Earthworms create air channels within the soil, allowing plant roots to access more oxygen.
• Waste from earthworms serves as an excellent natural fertilizer for crops.
• Earthworms contribute significantly to soil regeneration. Degraded, nutrient-poor soils can be rehabilitated through earthworm activity.
• Earthworm castings can help plants deter harmful pests.

Thanks to these roles, many people have utilized earthworms in vegetable cultivation. Particularly, many farmers breed earthworms for their castings to enhance seed germination. This leads to increased crop yields. Additionally, areas depleted of nutrients due to years of exploitation can be rejuvenated through earthworm farming.

Earthworms serve as a highly nutritious food source for certain types of poultry and livestock. Various poultry and livestock species can utilize earthworms as food sources, including chickens, ducks, birds, pigs, frogs, and buffalo. Earthworms consist of 70% crude protein, devoid of impurities and harmful substances. This protein content can rival that found in meat and fish. Indeed, even meat and fish cannot provide sufficient nutrients to animals as earthworms can.

Furthermore, earthworms contain a significant amount of amino acids essential for animal growth. This ensures that poultry and livestock have access to clean, nutritious food. Additionally, investors can save a considerable amount of money because earthworms can self-reproduce and thrive in soil. There is no need for disposing of waste or watering, yet earthworms continue to proliferate.

On the other hand, preserving earthworms for gradual use is straightforward. Simply keep them in the soil, where they will self-generate, grow, and increase in numbers. Livestock and poultry farmers will never encounter issues of earthworms becoming moldy or expiring, unlike with pre-prepared feed.

A little-known role of earthworms is their use as food. Nowadays, many countries around the world utilize earthworms to create everyday dishes. Particularly in Taiwan, there are up to 200 dishes made from earthworms as ingredients. Additionally, in some European countries, earthworms are consumed with fried eggs for breakfast.

When used as food, earthworm-based dishes provide a rich source of protein. The vitamin content provided by earthworms includes A, B1, B2, C, and E, with concentrations 15 times higher than those found in meat and fish. Due to the versatility of earthworm-based dishes, one country has even developed canned earthworm food products.

In some areas, earthworm species are raised to produce organic fertilizers for crops. These species are also widely traded globally. In 1980, 370 million earthworms were exported to Canada and the United States, valued at $13 million and $54 million respectively. The Māori people in New Zealand have a dish called “Noke,” made from earthworms and reserved for tribal leaders.

Few are aware that earthworms can be used as medicine for humans. The use of earthworms in medicine is not only practiced in Vietnam but also in many countries worldwide. Medicines derived from earthworms can treat ailments related to the heart, joints, blood pressure, and more. Specifically, earthworm-derived medicines help enhance blood circulation, stabilize blood pressure, and regulate body temperature.

For children, earthworm-based medicines can alleviate loss of appetite, malnutrition, lethargy, weakness, and sleep disturbances. Consequently, children will quickly gain weight, develop a healthy appetite, and sleep soundly. For women, earthworm-based medicines can reduce uterine contractions and airway dilation. Additionally, conditions such as asthma and atherosclerosis can be treated with medicines derived from earthworms.

Reproduction process of earthworms: Earthworms belong to the group of invertebrates, similar to species in the Phylum Annelida. Earthworms possess unique reproductive capabilities. Each earthworm individual carries both male and female genders, performing mating through 'copulatory pouches.' The hermaphroditic nature of earthworms is particularly noteworthy; upon successful mating, the copulatory pouch will be filled with fertilized eggs, which accumulate within a cocoon. After a gestation period ranging from two to four weeks, these cocoons will hatch into baby earthworms.

Movement process of earthworms: The movement process of earthworms involves three steps:

1. Contracting the body to form a head phong, elongating the tail section.
2. Preparing to crawl.
3. Using the entire body and circular muscles as support, extending the head forward.

With each passing day, humans release more waste into the environment. Concurrently, the environment is increasingly degraded, experiencing severe nutrient deficiencies. This leads to a decline in agricultural productivity. To address this issue, you can raise earthworms to improve the soil. In Japan, people have used earthworms to process tons of waste each year.

Above are some information to help readers understand the role of earthworms. They are gentle creatures that not only cause no harm but also bring many positive benefits. Particularly, the benefits of earthworms are widely utilized in agriculture. If you have any further questions, readers can visit chephamvisinh.vn for the quickest answers.

In Vietnam, according to the Soil Animal Research Center (Hanoi University of Education), we have discovered over 170 species. They are widely distributed and exhibit various characteristics. Some species live in water, while the majority reside in moist soil or areas with dense vegetation. There are species that are very small, weighing only about 10 mg. Meanwhile, in Australia, there is a giant earthworm species measuring up to 1.4m in length and weighing nearly half a kilogram! However, what people care most about is which species to breed.

On rainy days or after rain, large earthworms often crawl onto the ground. They are as thick as a pinky finger and as long as chopsticks. These are our highly valued 'ploughmen.' They are called 'khoang' worms. They spend their days digging in the soil to find food. Their activity aerates the soil, creating beneficial changes for crops. The body of an earthworm is a cylindrical tube, with one end being the mouth and the other being the anus. They ingest soil through their mouths and then swallow it. As it passes through the digestive tract, organic matter and debris are digested and absorbed. The remaining materials are excreted through the anus. This is worm castings (vermicast), a very good soil. They are loose and retain moisture. Additionally, forms of nitrogen and potassium that are difficult for plants to absorb, after passing through the worm's gut, become easily absorbable forms. However, this species of worm is not yet suitable for breeding. Earthworm species used for breeding must have high protein content, fast growth rates, be able to live in cramped conditions, and quickly adapt to new environments.

Among thousands of earthworm species, only 6-7 are suitable for breeding. Each country prefers to breed its own species. However, the red wiggler earthworm (Perionyx escavatus) is favored in many places. In our country, we also encourage the breeding of this species. Currently, SFARM Earthworm Farm has developed industrial-scale breeding of red wiggler earthworms, producing stable vermicompost for agriculture.

Earthworms are the common name for all types of worms living on this planet. Currently, there are about 4,400 different earthworm species identified worldwide. Based on size and species behavior, they are classified into 3 main groups: EPIGEIC, ENDOGEIC, and ANECEIC.

EPEIGEIC (red worms or dung-eating worms): These include species like Eisenia foetida, Eudrilus eugenie (Nigerian), Perionyx excavatus (red wiggler)… Their feeding behavior is typically on the soil surface, consuming all types of organic matter, carcasses, and animal waste. They decompose organic matter but do not play a role in soil improvement. Because of their omnivorous feeding habits, this group often provides very high nitrogen content. Additionally, because they usually live on the soil surface, they come into contact with many predators, so their bodies contain very high enzyme levels. This group of worms is used as feed for livestock, poultry, aquatic, and marine animals… Moreover, in advanced countries such as Canada, the United States, Australia, Japan… these worms are used to treat agricultural and industrial waste to prevent environmental pollution.

ANECEIC (fishing worms or soil-burrowing worms): These include species like Lumbricus, Polypheretima elongata, Lampito maruti… They live vertically in the soil, sometimes digging burrows up to 3m deep. They consume both organic matter and minerals in the soil, then deposit waste throughout their burrows. At night, they come up to the soil surface to feed and mate, possessing very large jaws that crush all organic waste. Therefore, they are very beneficial for soil improvement. Additionally, because this group of worms is very large, they are also used as fishing bait.

Endogenic (mineral-eating worms): These include species like Pentoscolex sps. Eutopeius sps. Drawida sps… These are worms that feed more on minerals in the soil than organic matter, moving horizontally in the soil, so they do not play a role in decomposing organic matter and frequently move from place to place. This type of worm is also used for soil treatment but not as effectively as Aneceic.

The flexible movement of earthworms within the soil simultaneously ensures the even distribution and widespread allocation of nutrients. Additionally, the constant movement of earthworms creates fissures in the soil, making it friable, aerated, free-draining, and facilitating easy plant respiration.

Earthworm castings and carcasses, combined with soil particles, can regenerate soil aggregates, increase water retention capacity, maintain moisture, and contribute to the regeneration of the surface soil layer. Under favorable living conditions, an average earthworm can produce around 50 tons of castings per hectare annually, enough to form a 5mm deep soil layer.

Thanks to their ability to move within the soil, the soil becomes aerated. Consequently, soil microorganisms thrive, creating a highly interactive biological environment that helps mitigate the adverse effects of soil-borne pathogens.

When earthworms are present in the soil, it indicates that the cultivated land is clean, healthy, and fertile. For fertile soils, the number of earthworms ranges from 300 to 500 individuals per square meter. The abundance of earthworms signifies excellent soil quality in that area.

Moreover, a high density of earthworms underground reflects the natural activities of organisms and microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. The soil biota helps decompose organic matter, enriching the soil with nutrients.

Earthworms also improve soil structure and aeration, directly impacting plant growth, soil structure, and carbon cycling. Soils will be richer if earthworms are present.

Earthworms move and burrow in the soil, creating voids that enhance natural water drainage for the soil. Soil with minimal tillage and abundant earthworms has significantly better water drainage capabilities than cultivated soil.

Understanding earthworms further reveals why they are considered the key to organic farming. Let's explore ways to conserve and enhance them.

What earthworms need is ample organic matter, moderate temperatures, and sufficient moisture. Therefore, a ground cover layer using organic mulches or cover crops should be established to create a vegetative cover, providing both habitat and food for earthworms.

Minimizing regular soil tillage is essential as it disturbs their habitat and disrupts the activities of soil organisms, resulting in a decrease in earthworm populations.

Earthworms are highly sensitive to pesticides. Chemicals absorbed into the soil can poison them. Hence, reducing pesticide usage is crucial. They can be replaced with biopesticides that are harmless to earthworms and soil biota, ensuring human health.