Earthworm species suitable for Commercial Vermiculture
Over 3,000 individual species of earthworms have been recorded throughout the world, but in the but local regions it is usually found that only around 30 species are endemic.
These are usually divided into three broad species categories, depending on habitat and worm 'lifestyle'. Only the litter dwelling species are used for vermicomposting.
Litter dwelling earthworms
There are several deeply pigmented or red species that normally live in the rotting litter or organic matter on the surface of soils. They grow and reproduce very prolifically compared with true soil dwelling earthworms.
Topsoil dwelling earthworms
In the first few centimetres of topsoil just below the surface live another group of small earthworms. They improve soil structure in the root zone of plants and recycle dead organic matter.
Deep burrowing earthworms
Some of the most important species live deeper down in the soil profile in permanent vertical burrows that can be up to two metres long. They help create topsoil by dragging dead organic material from the soil surface down into their burrows, ingesting it along with soil and then egesting the mixture back on the surface as nutrient-rich earthworm casts. Species in this category are highly valued and have been successfully bred for land restoration projects.
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