Worm Facts

Redworm (aka Red Wigglers) Facts

WHAT IS VERMICOMPOSTING?

Vermicomposting is considered a "cold" composting method as there is little to no heat generated by the bacteria as they are decomposing the organic material. Worms are used to "process" the organic material.

 

WHAT DO WORMS EAT?

Worms eat micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes). They take a bite out of the plant or organic material but they are consuming the juice from the crushed micro-organisms. They are comminutors - they break up the organic matter into smaller pieces for the bacteria and fungi to get on those surfaces to do further decomposition. But the worms are not consuming the plant material.

 

DO WORMS EAT SEEDS?

A worm can't eat seeds because they are too big to fit into its mouth. For this reason, heat treatment should be done to feedstocks to kill all seeds before feeding to the worms.

  

WHAT ABOUT PATHOGENS?

Human and plant pathogens cannot make it through the worm's digestive system. In an experiment, e-coli pathogenic bacteria was fed to worms. By the time it moved 1/3 of the way into the intestine, there was practically no detectable human pathogens left. But some of the best bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes survive through the worm and are expelled from the worm's anus in round balls called castings.  These castings are covered in worm mucus and are inoculated with beneficial micro-organisms.

 

HOW LONG DO THEY LIVE?

Redworms live about 1-5 years.

 

HOW FAST DO THEY REPRODUCE?

At the age of 2 to 3 months, the worms are old enough to reproduce. They can produce 2 cocoons per week with each cocoon having at least 3 eggs (baby worms). In 2 to 3 weeks, if the conditions are right, the cocoons will hatch. Theoretically they can double their population every 3 months but reproduction will slow down once their population reaches a certain density.

 

AT WHAT TEMPERATURES ARE THEY ACTIVE?

The ideal range is 55-75 degrees F. They slow down at temperatures around 85-90F and also close to freezing.

 

DO THEY PREFER AEROBIC OR ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS?

Worms are aerobes and will die in anaerobic conditions.