It is a little difficult to specifically answer the question of what earthworms eat for the reason that they are practically omnivorous. They swallow a significant amount of soil, drawing out all the organic matter from it.
In the same way, they process many different half-rotten leaves, with the exception of objects that are too hard or have a repulsive odor for them. If you place worms in pots of soil, you can watch them eat the fresh foliage of various plants.
Origin of the species and description
Photo: Earthworm
Lumbricina belong to the suborder of oligochaete worms and belong to the order Haplotaxida. The most famous European species belong to the family Lumbricidae, which contains about 200 species. The benefits of earthworms were first noted by the English naturalist Charles Darwin in 1882.
When it rains, the burrows of earthworms fill with water and they are forced to crawl to the surface due to lack of air. This is where the name of the animals comes from. They occupy a very important place in the structure of the soil, enriching the soil with humus, saturating it with oxygen, and significantly increasing productivity.
Video: Earthworm
In Western Europe, dried worms were processed into powder and applied to wounds to promote healing. The tincture was used to treat cancer and tuberculosis. The decoction was believed to help with ear pain. Spineless, boiled in wine, treated jaundice, and with the help of oil infused with invertebrates, they fought against rheumatism.
In the 18th century, the German doctor Stahl treated patients with epilepsy with a powder made from washed and ground worms. In Chinese folk medicine, the drug was used to combat atherosclerosis. Russian folk medicine practiced the treatment of cataracts using the liquid dripping from salted fried worms. It was dropped into the eyes.
Interesting fact: Australian Aborigines still eat large types of worms, and in Japan they believe that if you urinate on an earthworm, the causative area will swell.
Invertebrates can be divided into 3 ecological types, depending on their behavior in the natural environment:
- epigeic - do not dig holes, live in the top layer of soil;
- endogeic - live in branched horizontal burrows;
- anecic - feed on fermented organic matter and dig vertical burrows.
Appearance and features
Photo: Earthworm on the ground
Body length depends on the species and can vary from 2 centimeters to 3 meters. The number of segments is 80-300, each of which has short bristles. Their number can be from 8 units to several dozen. Worms rely on them when moving.
Each segment consists of:
- skin cells;
- longitudinal muscles;
- cavity fluid;
- circular muscles;
- bristles.
The muscles are well developed. The creatures alternately compress and lengthen the longitudinal and circular muscles. Thanks to contractions, they can not only crawl through burrows, but also expand the holes, pushing the soil to the sides. Animals breathe through sensitive skin cells. The epithelium is covered with protective mucus, which is saturated with many antiseptic enzymes.
The circulatory system is closed and well developed. The blood is red. The invertebrate has two main blood vessels: dorsal and abdominal. They are connected by ring vessels. Some of them contract and pulsate, driving blood from the spinal to the abdominal vessels. The vessels branch into capillaries.
The digestive system consists of the mouth, from where food enters the pharynx, then into the esophagus, an enlarged crop, and then into the muscular stomach. In the midgut, food is digested and absorbed. The remains come out through the anus. The nervous system consists of the ventral chain and two nerve ganglia. The ventral nerve cord begins with the peripharyngeal ring. It contains the most nerve cells. This structure ensures the independence of the segments and the consistency of all organs.
The excretory organs are presented in the form of thin curved tubes, one end of which goes into the body and the other out. Metanephridia and excretory pores help remove toxins from the body into the external environment when too much of them accumulates. There are no organs of vision. But there are special cells on the skin that sense the presence of light. The organs of touch, smell, and taste buds are also located here. The ability to regenerate is a unique ability to restore a lost part of the body after damage.
What not to do?
Also, when breeding pets at home, it is not recommended to feed them with fish, meat and dairy products. Also eliminate salty foods from your diet. In addition, neither canned cucumbers, nor tomatoes, nor cabbage will bring any benefit. You need to remember that feeding the worm once a week is enough. To do this, you need to crush the food and put it on the ground. The feed layer is allowed up to 10 cm.
When it comes to what earthworms eat, you need to know that they usually get used to the same food, and it will take them some time to switch to a different diet. If you decide to change their diet, then you need to do this gradually, adding new food to the usual in small portions.
As a rule, the feed mass is placed in boxes 5-7 cm thick once every 3 weeks, depending on the number, size and appetite of the worms. When they process one layer, they soon leave it and rise higher to a new one. After processing, humus remains in the lower layer, which can be used as fertilizer.
Not only is it important for us to know what earthworms eat, but we should also remember that these individuals are inconspicuous, quiet workers who make the soil fertile. They are the most important friends and helpers for gardeners and gardeners. They need to be protected and helped in every possible way.
Where does the earthworm live?
Photo: Earthworm in Russia
The spineless are divided into those who find their food underground and those who seek food on it. The first are called bedding and do not dig holes deeper than 10 centimeters, even during periods of freezing or drying out of the soil. Soil-litter can go down 20 centimeters.
Burrowing earthworms descend to a depth of one meter. This type can very rarely be found on the surface, since they practically do not rise to the top. Even during the mating process, invertebrates do not completely protrude from their burrows.
You can see earthworms everywhere, with the exception of frosty arctic places. The burrowing and litter categories thrive in waterlogged soils. They can be found near ponds, in swamps and in areas with a humid climate. Soil types love steppe chernozems, litter and soil-litter soils love tundra and taiga.
Interesting fact: Initially, only a few species were widespread. The expansion of the range occurred as a result of human introduction.
Invertebrates easily adapt to any territory and climate, but feel most comfortable in areas of coniferous broad-leaved forests. In summer they are located closer to the surface, but in winter they descend deeper.
External structure
Body
The earthworm, or earthworm (Fig. 51) has an elongated body, 10-16 cm long. In cross section, the body is round, but, unlike roundworms, it is divided into 110-180 segments by annular constrictions.
Each segment has 8 small elastic bristles. They are almost invisible, but if we run our fingers from the back end of the worm's body to the front, we will immediately feel them. With these bristles, the worm rests against uneven soil or the walls of the passage when moving. Regeneration in earthworms is well expressed.
Body wall
If we take a worm in our hands, we will find that its body wall is wet and covered with mucus. This mucus makes it easier for the worm to move through the soil. In addition, only through the moist body wall does the oxygen necessary for breathing penetrate into the worm’s body.
The body wall of an earthworm, like that of all annelids, consists of a thin cuticle, which is secreted by a single-layer epithelium.
Under it there is a thin layer of circular muscles, and under the circular muscles there are more powerful longitudinal muscles. By contracting, the circular muscles lengthen the body of the worm, and the longitudinal muscles shorten it. Thanks to the alternating work of these muscles, the worm moves.
What does an earthworm eat?
Photo: Large earthworm
Animals consume half-rotted plant remains as food, which enter their mouths along with the soil. During passage through the midgut, soil is mixed with organic matter. Invertebrate excrement contains 5 times more nitrogen, 7 times more phosphorus, 11 times more potassium compared to soil.
The diet of earthworms includes rotting animal remains, lettuce, manure, insects, and watermelon rinds. The creatures avoid alkaline and acidic substances. The type of worm also influences taste preferences. Nocturnal individuals, true to their name, search for food after dark. The veins are left, eating only the pulp of the leaf.
Having found food, the animals begin to dig the soil, holding the find in their mouths. They prefer to mix their food with soil. Many species, such as red worms, travel to the surface to search for food. When the content of organic matter in the soil decreases, individuals begin to look for more suitable conditions for life and migrate to survive.
Interesting fact: In a day, an earthworm eats as much as it weighs.
Due to their slowness, individuals do not have time to absorb vegetation on the surface, so they drag food inside, saturating it with organic matter, and store it there, allowing their fellow creatures to feed on it. Some individuals dig a separate storage hole for food and visit it if necessary. Thanks to tooth-like projections in the stomach, food is ground into small particles inside.
Spineless leaves are used not only for food, but also to cover the entrance to the hole. To do this, they drag withered flowers, stems, feathers, scraps of paper, and tufts of wool to the entrance. Sometimes leaf stalks or feathers may protrude from the entrances.
Features of character and lifestyle
Photo: Red earthworm
Earthworms are primarily underground animals. First of all, it ensures safety. The creatures dig holes in the ground with a depth of 80 centimeters. Larger species dig tunnels up to 8 meters deep, due to which the soil is mixed and moistened. Animals push soil particles aside or swallow them.
With the help of mucus, invertebrates move even in the hardest soil. They should not be exposed to the sun for a long time, as this threatens the worms with death. Their skin is very thin and dries out quickly. Ultraviolet radiation has a detrimental effect on the skin, so you can see animals only in cloudy weather.
The suborder prefers to be nocturnal. At night, you can find clusters of creatures on the ground. When they lean out, they leave part of their body underground, scouting out the situation. If nothing frightens them, the creatures completely emerge from the ground and look for food.
The body of invertebrates tends to stretch well. Many bristles bend, protecting the body from external influences. It is very difficult to pull a whole worm out of a burrow. The animal defends itself and clings to the edges of the burrow with its bristles, so it is easy to tear it.
The benefits of earthworms are difficult to overestimate. In winter, in order not to hibernate, they descend deep underground. With the arrival of spring, the soil warms up and individuals begin to circulate through the dug passages. With the first warm days they begin their working activity.
How do worms move?
The worm moves due to the opposite ends of the body. The front end extends and clings to the rough surface of the soil. Then comes the turn of the back part, which, resting on the ground, is pulled up to the head. In this case, the body has to alternately stretch and contract, changing its length. Directly under the skin there is a well-developed muscle system, which has a two-layer structure. Changes in length spread along the body in waves, which is easy to notice.
The earthworm's respiratory organ is its entire skin. A prerequisite for the respiratory process is the presence of mucus on the surface of the body. Dry skin leads to the death of the animal. The worm can live in an aquatic environment for several weeks. “What do earthworms eat and how do they reproduce?” – this question is asked by many people.
The lack of hearing and vision is compensated by an excellent sense of touch, which helps the worm find food.
Social structure and reproduction
Photo: Earthworms on the site
Animals are hermaphrodites. Reproduction occurs sexually, by cross-fertilization. Each individual that has reached puberty has female and male genital organs. The worms are connected by mucous membranes and exchange sperm.
Interesting fact: Invertebrate mating can last up to three hours at a time. During the courtship period, individuals climb into each other's burrows and mate 17 times in a row. Each sexual intercourse lasts at least 60 minutes.
The reproductive system is located in the front of the body. Sperm are located in the seminal receptacles. During mating, cells on segment 32 secrete mucus, which subsequently forms an egg cocoon, fed by protein fluid for the embryo. The secretions are transformed into a mucous membrane.
Spineless lay eggs in it. The embryos are born after 2-4 weeks and are stored in a cocoon, reliably protected from any influences. After 3-4 months they grow to adult size. Most often, one baby is born. Life expectancy reaches 6-7 years.
The Taiwanese species Amynthas catenus has lost its genitals during evolution and reproduces through parthenogenesis. This is how they pass on 100% of their genes to their descendants, resulting in the birth of identical individuals - clones. So the parent acts as both father and mother.
Natural enemies of the earthworm
Photo: Earthworm in nature
In addition to weather events that disrupt the normal life of animals with floods, frosts, droughts and other similar phenomena, predators and parasites lead to population decline.
These include:
- moles;
- small predators;
- amphibians;
- centipedes;
- birds;
- horseleech.
Moles eat earthworms in large quantities. It is known that they make provisions for the winter in their burrows, which mainly consist of earthworms. Predators bite off the spineless head or severely damage it so that it does not crawl away until the severed part is regenerated. The big red worm is considered the most delicious for moles.
Moles are especially dangerous for invertebrates due to their large numbers. Small mammals hunt for worms. Voracious frogs watch for individuals at their burrows and attack at night, as soon as their heads appear above the ground. Birds cause great damage to numbers.
Thanks to their keen eyesight, they can see the ends of worms sticking out of holes. Every morning, birds in search of food pull spineless ones out of the entrances with their sharp beaks. Birds feed not only on adults, but also pick up cocoons with eggs.
Horse leeches, found in various bodies of water, including puddles, do not attack humans or large animals due to their blunt jaws. They cannot bite through thick skin, but they can easily swallow a worm. At autopsy, the stomachs of the predators contained undigested remains of worms.
What are these creatures?
Biology classifies these representatives of the animal world as annelids. If you look closely at them, then on their thin body (50 mm in diameter, 15-30 cm in length) you can see rings, the number of which can sometimes reach 300. There are also very small worms about 2 cm. Few people know that There are giant worms that reach up to 2 meters in length. But they, like the others, are completely harmless and harmless to humans.
Population and species status
Photo: Earthworm
Normal, uncontaminated soil on arable farms can contain between one hundred thousand and one million worms. Their total weight can range from one hundred to a thousand kilograms per hectare of land. Vermiculture farmers grow their own populations for greater soil fertility.
Worms help process organic waste into vermicompost, which is a high-quality fertilizer. Farmers increase the mass of invertebrates to feed them for farm animals and birds. To increase the number of worms, compost is prepared from organic waste. Fishermen use spineless fish to catch fish.
When studying ordinary chernozem, three species of earthworms were found: Dendrobaena octaedra, Eisenia nordenskioldi and E. fetida. The first were 42 units per square meter of virgin land, 13 of arable land. Eisenia fetida was not found in virgin land, and 1 individual was found in arable land.
In different habitats, the number varies greatly. In the water meadows of the city of Perm, 150 specimens/m2 were found. In the mixed forest of the Ivanovo region - 12221 specimens/m2. Pine forest of the Bryansk region - 1696 specimens/m2. In the mountain forests of the Altai Territory in 1950 there were 350 thousand specimens per m2.
