In terrestrial ecosystems the main source of food (organic matter) is litter from above ground plants. However, dead roots and rhizodeposition (material transfer form roots to soil) are also important food resources and earthworms have been observed ingesting living roots. Within farming systems animal dung may also form an important, but localised, food source for several, usually litter dwelling, species and result in their aggregation under dung pats. See similar questions...

All earthworms eat decaying organic matter such as leaves, grass, and other "green waste". Our farm-raised earthworms are fed high-protein chicken laying mash as explained in Earthworm Care and Feeding. You may also consider feeding ground kitchen waste. See Vermicomposting for additional information regarding this feeding method. See similar questions...

Earthworms do not possess eyes, but they do have sensory cells with a lens like structure located in regions of the skin that respond to light stimuli. See similar questions...

Earthworms burrow thorough the soil by co-ordinating contractions of the longitudinal and circular muscle bands that lie in the body wall. These contractions are made possible by the segments being kept turgid by the coelomic fluid. This co-ordination allows the earthworm to pass contraction from segment to segment in a wave effect thrusting the earthworm forward. See similar questions...

Earthworms will generally eat their own weight daily. Half of everything they eat turns into viable plant food(earthworm castings) which is directly assimilated. See similar questions...

When I first found my starling (rescued him from the neighbor's cat), he had gape worm (worms in his trachea, that caused him to cough). My vet cleared up the gape worm and the feather lice with Ivermectin. Earthworms are listed as an intermediate host for gape worm, so I wouldn't feed earthworms to my starling. I have fed him mealworms and crickets from a pet shop, and also garden spiders from a yard that I know isn't sprayed with any pesticides. See similar questions...

Charles Darwin was the first scientist to recognise the importance of earthworms which he described as “natures plough”. Today the beneficial effect of earthworms on the physical and chemical nature of soils is well established. Through their burrowing activities earthworms increase rainfall infiltration rates, improve soil aeration and allow greater root development. See similar questions...

Even though hermaphrodites (male and female organs are present in the same individual) most earthworm species reproduce by cross-fertilisation, although some are parthenogenetic (Reproduction in which the ova develops without being fertilised by a spermatozoa, hence it involves only one parent). See similar questions...

The majority of earthworm species are hermaphrodites possessing separate testes and ovaries that function simultaneously and reproduce by cross-fertilisation. However, some species can reproduce parthenogenetically (Reproduction in which the ova develops without being fertilised by a spermatozoa, hence it involves only one parent). See similar questions...

Surprisingly, no. Anatolians tend to be "easy keepers", and an adult Anatolian will eat between 40 to 60 pounds of premium quality dog chow a month. As a puppy, an Anatolian should be fed a premium puppy food for the first year. Some breeders will use puppy food for the first 18 months, and then switch to a good adult food. See similar questions...

The college has a wonderful cafeteria that offers excellent food and also caters to vegitarian and diabetic style diets. Wide selection of choices will be available. Back to Top See similar questions...

The average pound of red worms will contain between 800 - 1200 earthworms at various stages of development. See similar questions...

Less cultivation encourages beneficial insects (beetle and spider predators) as well as allowing the build up a larger earthworm population and biomass. Shallower cultivation/ direct drilling keeps trash on the soil surface which helps to stabilise soils and also builds soil health and structure which can reduce the risk of soil erosion if done correctly. See similar questions...

Research in the USA is currently looking into earthworms' anti-inflammatory properties for treating arthritis and other joint ailments and is also investigating other medical uses associated with earthworms' ability to burrow through and eat soil without being attacked by bacteria. See similar questions...

Certain earthworm species tend to be associated with one another and usually such associations result from some characteristic of the habitat (e.g. availability of food resources). Individual earthworm species also have relationships with many other organisms including, micro-organisms, invertebrates and vertebrates. far as I am aware there is no collective noun for a group of earthworms, but I propose a slither of earthworms may be an apt phrase to use. See similar questions...