Did you know?

• Earthworms are invertebrates, which means they have no backbone.
• Earthworms belong to the phylum Annelida, which includes leeches and marine worms.
• The earthworm is blind but sensitive to light (photosensitive).
• An earthworm has three to five hearts depending on the species.
• Earthworms don’t have lungs. They breathe through their skin, which has a protective mucous membrane.
• Earthworms are hermaphrodites, and have both male and female sexual organs.
• Each egg capsule will, on average, produce four baby worms and sometimes more.
• One mature earthworm can produce 1200–1500 babies in 12 months.
• Compost worms can consume their own body weight equivalent in food in every 2-3 days (depending on certain foods offered).
• Compost worms love to eat organic waste and will eat anything that was once living.
• Compost worms produce worm castings (poo) – a rich organic, all purpose, soluble fertiliser, suitable for all plant types.
• Worm tea or the liquid leachate is a concentrated form of plant nutrient obtained from a worm farm.

Types of worms used in worm farms

Common European earthworms include the Red wriggler (Lumbricus rubellis) and the Tiger worm (Eisenia fetida). Indian blue (Perionyx excavatus) comes from Asia. They are all also referred to as manure compost worms.