Eisenia foetida
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Eisenia fetida | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||
| Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826) [1] |
Eisenia fetida, known under various common names, including redworms, brandling worms, "tiger worms" and red wiggler worms, is a species of earthworm adapted to the environment of decaying organic material. It thrives in rotting vegetation, compost, and manure, i.e. it is an epigeic worm. It is rarely found in soil, and instead, like Lumbricus rubellus, prefers conditions where other worms cannot survive. Its specific name arises because, when roughly handled, it exudes a pungent liquid. This is presumably a chemical defense mechanism, although there appears to be no direct confirmation in the scientific literature that it confers protection against predators. It is closely related to the sibling species Eisenia andrei, also referred to as E. fetida andrei. The only simple way of distinguishing them is that E. fetida is lighter in colour. Molecular analyses have confirmed their identity as separate species, and breeding experiments have shown that they do not produce hybrids.
They are readily commercially available, usually by weight - primarily they are sold for vermiculture, owing to their remarkable ability to process organic matter into fertile compost, but they are also sold as bait. The composting process is known as vermiculture, with an end result of vermicompost.
[edit] Reproduction
Like other earthworms, Eisenia fetida are hermaphroditic. Rather than laying eggs directly, they secrete "cocoons" which contain several eggs. These cocoons are lemon-shaped and begin as pale yellow when first laid, and become more brownish as they mature. The cocoons are clearly visible to the naked eye.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ "Eisenia fetida". Fauna Europaea. 2004. http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=178401.
- ^ http://vermontworms.com/red-wiggler-eggs-compost-worm-eggs/
 This annelid-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
