Earthworm Species About 2,700 species –Nightcrawler (most common, from Europe) –Manure Worm (Compost Worm) –Green worm (can be green, pink, gray, yellow) –Snake worm (“Crazy worm”, very fast, from China)

Earthworm Anatomy Cold-blooded Invertebrates No eyes (Light sensitive) Breathe through skin -Can live underwater Feel vibrations through ground Setae= bristles for moving Can regrow tail Mucus secretion –Create stable tunnels

How long can they get? Depends on species Compost Worms –As small as 2 cm Nightcrawlers –Can be almost 1 ft! Longest Worm: South Africa –22 feet from head to tail!!!

What/How do they Eat? Not just dirt, but the remains of living things that are in the dirt! –Decomposers = eaters of dead material –Dead plants (leaves and roots) and dead animals –Also eat living organisms (bacteria, fungus, etc). No teeth! Very strong mouth muscles –Eat small pieces of food –Also “swallow" soil - get nutrients from it –Nightcrawlers pull pieces of food into their burrows to eat later.

Why Do We Like Earthworms? “Open up soil” –Burrowing –Oxygen and water Fertilize the soil –Burrowing mixes soil –Slime contains Nitrogen –“Casts” (earthworm poop!) Contains nutrients for plants Helps soil pH Composting Food for other animals

Earthworm Life How many are there in my yard? –More than 1 million per acre How long can they live? –Nightcrawlers about 6 years –Other species up to 10 years –If they don’t get eaten first! Average life in wild = 2 yrs Hatch from cocoons –Can produce up to 80 cocoons per year (which could make about 240 babies)

What do earthworms like? Earthworms like to live underground in the soil. Do you think they would like an area that was light or dark?

What do earthworms like? Earthworms like to live underground in the soil. Do you think they would like an area that was hot or cold?

What do earthworms like? Earthworms like to live underground in the soil. Do you think they would like an area that was wet or dry?