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Earthworms or earthworms. How does an earthworm work. Consider it from all sides. The external structure of the worm

Many people underestimate the importance of the work of earthworms. These representatives of the invertebrate kingdom are best known for crawling out of the ground in large numbers after heavy rain. They are often used as bait by numerous fishing enthusiasts. Darwin also noted the fact that worms perform an important function in nature, acting as a kind of agricultural technicians. In the process of creating an extensive system of tunnels that the earthworm breaks through, excellent aeration is formed through the flow of air to the inner layers of the soil.

Thanks to excellent aeration, the respiratory activity of many plants is facilitated. Feeding on organic matter and waste, worms ensure the grinding of soil components, while enriching them with their secretions. The amazing ability of representatives of this species is the ability to disinfect huge areas of soil, sterilizing it from harmful bacteria. Thanks to countless burrows that form a semblance of a capillary system, perfect drainage and ventilation of the soil is ensured.

The body of an earthworm can reach three meters in length. However, on the territory of Russia, there are mainly individuals whose body length does not exceed 30 centimeters. In order to move, the worm uses small bristles that are located on different parts of the body. Depending on the variety, there can be from 100 to 300 segments. The circulatory system is closed and very well developed. It consists of one artery and one central vein.

The structure of the earthworm is very unusual. Breathing is realized with the help of special supersensitive cells. The skin produces a protective mucus with a sufficient amount of natural antiseptics. The structure of the brain is quite primitive and includes only two nerve nodes. According to the results of laboratory experiments, earthworms have confirmed their outstanding ability to regenerate. A severed tail grows back after a short period of time.

The genital organs of the earthworm are also arranged in a very unusual way. Each individual is a hermaphrodite. She also has male organs. According to biological factors, all such worms can be divided into several subgroups. Representatives of one of them are looking for food on the surface of the soil layer. Others use the soil itself as food and are extremely rarely shown from the ground.

The earthworm belongs to the type of annelids. Under the skin layer is a developed system of muscles, consisting of muscles of various shapes. The mouth opening, from which food enters the esophagus through the pharynx, is located on the front of the body. From there it is transported to the area of ​​the enlarged goiter and the small size of the muscular stomach.

Burrowing and litter earthworms live in places with loose and moist soil. Preference is given to wet soils of the subtropics, swampy lands and the banks of various reservoirs. In the steppe territories, soil varieties of worms are usually found. Litter species live in the taiga and forest-tundra. The coniferous broad-leaved strip can boast of the highest concentration of individuals.

What kind of soil do worms like?

Why do earthworms love sandy and loamy soils? Such soil is characterized by low acidity, which is best suited for their life. The level of acidity above pH 5.5 is detrimental to the organisms of these representatives of the annular type. Moist soils are one of the prerequisites for population expansion. During dry and hot weather, worms go deep underground and lose the ability to reproduce.

The nature and lifestyle of the earthworm

The active and productive life of the earthworm falls on the dark time of the day. As soon as night falls, many individuals crawl out to the surface of the ground in search of food. However, the tail usually remains in the ground. By morning, they return to their burrows with prey, dragging pieces of food into them and masking the entrance to their shelter with blades of grass and foliage.

The role of earthworms in nature is difficult to overestimate. The worm literally passes through itself an incredible amount of soil mixture, enriching it with beneficial enzymes and killing harmful substances and bacteria. The worm moves by crawling. Pulling in one end of the body and clinging with bristles to the roughness of the earth, it pulls up the rear part, making its many passages in this way.

How do earthworms survive winter?

During the winter period, the vast majority of individuals hibernate. A sharp drop in temperature can instantly destroy the worms, so they try to burrow into the soil in advance to a depth often exceeding one meter. Earthworms in the soil perform the most important function of its natural renewal and enrichment with various substances and microelements.

Benefit

In the process of digestion of semi-fermented leaves, the body of the worms produces specific enzymes that contribute to the active generation of humic acid. The soil that has been loosened by earthworms is optimal for a wide variety of representatives of the plant kingdom. Thanks to the system of intricate tunnels, excellent aeration and ventilation of the roots is provided. Thus, the movement of the earthworm is an important factor in the task of restoring the useful qualities of the soil.

The earthworm is in fact very useful for humans. It makes the soil layers fertile and enriches them with all sorts of nutrients. However, the total number of individuals in many regions of Russia is rapidly declining. This happens due to the uncontrolled introduction of pesticides, fertilizers and mineral mixtures into the soil. Numerous birds, moles, and various rodents also prey on earthworms.

What do earthworms eat?

At night, the earthworm crawls to the surface and pulls the half-decayed remains of plants and leaves into its shelter. Also, his diet includes soil rich in humus. One representative of the species can process up to half a gram of soil per day. Considering that up to several million individuals can be located simultaneously on an area of ​​one hectare, they are able to act as indispensable soil converters.

After the rain, a large number of worms can be seen on the asphalt and soil surface, what makes them crawl out? Even the name "earthworms" indicates that they are very fond of moisture and become more active after rain. Consider several possible reasons why earthworms crawl out after rain to the surface of the earth.

soil temperature

It is believed that the worms crawl to the surface in search of warmth, since after rain the soil temperature drops by several degrees, which causes discomfort for them.

Change in acid-base balance

Another theory says that the worms come to the surface due to a change in the acid-base balance of the soil after rain, it becomes more acidic, which negatively affects these diggers. According to the researchers, emergency evacuation to the soil surface saves them from death in an acidic environment.

Lack of air

The third theory explains that after rain, there is more oxygen in the upper layer of the soil, so the worms crawl out en masse. Water enriches the upper layers of the earth with oxygen, and many types of worms love moisture and vitally need enough oxygen. And through the surface of the body, oxygen is absorbed best in a humid environment.

Trips

British scientist Chris Lowe suggested that worms come to the surface of the earth during rain in order to make an extended journey to new territory. On the surface, worms can crawl much further than underground, and dry soil causes discomfort when moving, strong friction is created, grains of sand stick to the surface of the worm's body, injuring it. And after the rain, the surface of the earth is highly moistened, which allows them to freely travel to new areas of soil.

Sounds of the rain

Another scientist, Professor Joseph Gorris from the USA, suggested that earthworms are frightened by the sound of rain, since the vibrations that it creates are similar to the sound of the approach of their main enemy, the mole. That is why some fishermen use a technique to lure the bait to the surface: they insert a stick into the ground, fix a sheet of iron on its surface and pull it so as to create a vibration, while the short is transmitted to the ground through the stick. Frightened, the worms get to the surface of the earth and become easy prey for experienced fishermen.

Reproduction and lifespan of earthworms

The earthworm is a hermaphrodite. It has both female and male reproductive organs. However, he is not capable of self-fertilization. With the onset of warm climatic conditions required for reproduction, individuals crawl in pairs, attaching to each other with the abdominal region, and produce a kind of seed exchange. After that, the clutch is transformed into a cocoon, in which the eggs develop.

Some species differ in asexual reproduction. The body of the worm is divided in two, with one of the parts regenerating the anterior end, and the other regenerating the posterior end. There are also species of worms that reproduce without seed receptacles by laying spermatophores. The lifespan of worms can exceed ten years.

The internal structure can be clearly seen when opening the worm.

Before opening, the worm is killed by immersing it in dilute alcohol (10%) for several minutes. Then the worm is placed in the dissecting bath with its back up (a red blood vessel is clearly visible along its back), two pairs of pins are pinned at the front and rear ends of the body to the bottom of the dissecting bath, and then, starting from the back end, they are made either with thin scissors or with a blade razor longitudinal incision of the skin-muscular sac, keeping slightly to the right of the midline (so as not to damage the translucent blood vessel).

Then the cut walls of the body are deployed on both sides, they are fixed with several pairs of pins and water is poured so that it covers the opened worm (then its internal structure will be more clearly visible).

On the opened worm, first of all, the body cavity is visible, in which various internal organs lie. Thin transverse partitions divide the body cavity into separate chambers corresponding to the external division of the body into segments (Fig. 89).

Of the internal organs, the straight and voluminous intestines, which run along the entire length of the body, are most clearly visible. It consists of several sections: from a small oral cavity, followed by a muscular pharynx, then passing into a narrow esophagus, leading first to the goiter, then to the muscular stomach, in which the food is ground, and, finally, to the long intestine, which stretches to the rear end of the body and ends in the anus, or anus, opening.

Vessels of the circulatory system are visible above the intestines; they are clearly visible in the earthworm, because its blood is red (recall that in lower worms, and even more so in bilayer animals, we do not find a circulatory system). A large dorsal vessel runs along the entire intestine from above.

In the anterior part of the body, clearly visible paired branches depart from the spinal vessel, which, like hoops, clasp the esophagus and connect the dorsal vessel with the abdominal one, which runs along the body already under the intestines. These several pairs of vessels are called "hearts" because their muscular walls force the blood to move through the vascular system with their contractions.

Through the dorsal vessel, blood flows from the posterior end of the body to the anterior part, then through the "hearts" it passes into the abdominal vessel and here it flows in the opposite direction, that is, to the posterior end of the body.

In addition to these main vessels, the worm has even finer vessels; some of them, like "hearts", encircle the intestines, others go to various organs of the body.

The circulatory system brings to the tissues of the body the substances they need - the nutrient material that enters the blood from the intestines, and oxygen - and takes away the decay products from them - carbon dioxide and nitrogenous substances.

The excretory system of an earthworm has the appearance of small white convoluted tubes adjacent to those partitions that divide the body cavity into separate segments. One end of each such tube opens in the form of a small funnel into the body cavity, the other end opens outward. Since these excretory tubules (nephridia) are distributed in pairs among individual segments, or segments, of the body, they are also called segmental organs.

The worm does not have a special respiratory system, and its gas exchange occurs through the entire surface of the body, dressed in a thin and always wet cuticle. Respiratory gas exchange takes place in moist soil, where atmospheric air also penetrates. In rainy weather, when the soil is saturated with water with a high content of carbon dioxide (released during the decomposition of humus), earthworms feel a lack of oxygen, and this causes them to come to the surface.

The nervous system of the earthworm forms a peripharyngeal ring in the anterior part of the body, consisting of the supraesophageal node, or "brain", of a pair of nerve cords covering the pharynx on both sides, and of the subpharyngeal node, located already under the intestines.

The subpharyngeal node begins the abdominal nerve chain, which stretches along the lower wall of the body (to see it, you need to remove the intestines). The abdominal chain consists of nerve nodes - one node for each segment of the body - and of the nerve cords connecting them. All these nodes are double, that is, each was formed from a pair of nodes merged with each other, and nerves depart from each node to neighboring organs.

Thus, each ganglion is a special nerve center for its segment, but they all act in concert, depending on the activity of the supraesophageal ganglion, which is therefore called the "brain" of the worm.

Closer to the anterior end of the worm at the bottom of the body cavity are the reproductive organs. Earthworms are bisexual animals, or hermaphrodites, that is, each of them has both male and female reproductive organs - both testes and ovaries. Both testes and ovaries open with separate paired openings on the ventral side of the body.

In the structure of the body of an earthworm, one feature clearly stands out: its entire body is divided into segments that go one after another, which seem to repeat each other with their structure.

Outside, the segments are separated by intercepts and have the form of rings with eight bristles on each ring, and inside each intercept corresponds to a transverse septum and each segment has its own paired ganglion, its own pair of transverse blood vessels encircling the intestines, its own pair of excretory tubes, its annular and longitudinal muscles. Such a structure, when repeating, almost identical parts go one after another in the body, is called metameric (Fig. 89, 91).

After long scientific research and zoological work, an interesting fact was determined: an ordinary earthworm plays a very important role in the decomposition of organic substances that enter the soil, enriching it with humus and other important plant nutrients that rise from the deep layers of the root system.

It is these animals occupy a leading position along with the most important helpers of the soil, and a worthy alternative for the earthworm has not yet been found. If there are colonies of these eukaryotes in the soil, fertility indicators will be maximum, since they directly depend on the volume of organic matter that enters the soil.

It is very difficult to overestimate the role of the earthworm for the ecosystem. Such a tiny creature enriches the soil with all useful elements, making it fertile and healthy. Few people know about it, but the life and existence of the human race is strongly connected with the activities of these animals. Their disappearance would have fatal consequences, including mass deaths due to starvation.

Earthworm: main characteristics

An earthworm or earthworm is a segmented worm with a tubular shape. The animal is found on all continents of the globe, in places with an abundant supply of moisture and organic matter. Life expectancy reaches 4-8 years and is determined by the type of specific inhabitants. Some of them are able to live up to ten years. An interesting feature of the structure lies in the digestive system, which runs along the entire length of the body. In this case, the digestion of food is carried out by moving a set of muscles.

small earthworm has a central and peripheral nervous system. He can also breathe through his skin. The body of this creature is filled with slimy fluid and works as a hydrostatic skeleton. Any cartilage and connective tissues are absent. The presence of circular and longitudinal muscles allows the animal to move normally from one place to another.

It is important to note that due to the unique structure of the body, the earthworm is often called the most mysterious creature on the planet. It lacks eyes, ears, and even lungs. But the animal has several hearts. At the same time, the mucous liquid has an unpleasant taste, so predators do not use it as food.

Varieties of earthworm

Group of earthworms consists of many subspecies and families. Currently, more than two thousand species can be distinguished that are found in all regions of our globe. 40 of them live on the European continent. The most popular are two main types: the common earthworm and the dung worm. Consider the detailed characteristics of both varieties.

Earthworms may vary and biological properties such as food type and soil habitat. For this reason, scientists distinguish two main varieties:

  1. worms that live on the surface of the soil;
  2. worms that dig deep holes and make homes inside the soil.

Life cycle of earthworms

If we highlight the main features of the life cycle of an earthworm, they will be divided into four stages:

As mentioned above, the role of worms in nature is colossal. For this reason, these animals are now being bred and popularized to improve the fertility of vegetable gardens. The abundance of such invertebrates in the soil leads to the successful cultivation of various plant crops. Also worms are important for gardeners, which is why they are often called "the first agricultural technicians". And this is explained by a simple fact: the more the worm in the soil, the better garden trees will develop.

But what is the effect of such creatures on the ground? First of all, they solve a lot of problems in loosening the earth, improving its structure and increasing fertility. As a result, the gardener is relieved of a lot of additional worries.

In addition, when moving through the garden, the animals break through deep tunnels that provide a stable passage of air through the seeds and roots of plants. This behavior allows you to call the worms invisible tiny plowmen. It is also important to note that invertebrates protect vegetation from numerous diseases and pests. They produce stable humus by eating organic matter, including rotten leaves, dirt, and grass clippings.

During the digestion of food the worm emits a large amount of organic excrement, which contains elements such as:

  • phosphorus;
  • calcium;
  • nitrogen;
  • magnesium.

Therefore, if you meet a colony of earthworms in your garden or vegetable garden, the question “is this inhabitant useful for the local ecosystem” should automatically disappear.

Interesting fact: The famous scientist Charles Darwin, who proposed the theory of natural selection, paid great attention to the study of the life cycle of earthworms. Over the course of 40 years of his life, he conducted various experiments and studies with these spineless ones, as a result of which a book was born called "Formation of the vegetative layer of the earth by the activity of earthworms and observations of their lifestyle."

How to increase the content of the earthworm in the garden. home breeding

There are many ways to improve soil fertility in a vegetable garden or garden by promoting invertebrates. Experienced gardeners use various organic substances for this direction. Periodic mulching of the soil also helps. Humus, fallen leaves, manure, compost and other similar materials are laid on the surface layer of the soil.

In addition, many gardeners are breeding a worm at home. It is important to note that such an activity does not require any special efforts or investments. It is enough to provide optimal access to food, proper humidity, darkness and free space. The successful organization of the wormhole can be carried out in spring or early summer, because during this period the temperature range remains optimal. Worms will have time to multiply and become strong before the onset of winter. So, now directly about breeding worms in the garden.

The worm is a special structure in which representatives of the spineless will live and develop. Absolutely any containers can be used as it - boxes, troughs, an old bathtub, etc. For successful cultivation, it is recommended to carry out the procedure on open compost. But it is important to protect the selected area with a special net to prevent mass eating of worms by birds and other animals.

In order for the care and maintenance of these little plowmen to be as effective as possible, you need to put compost on the bottom of the future house (the optimal layer is 40 centimeters thick) and carefully process it with warm liquid. After that, it is necessary to equip the straw bedding and wait 5-6 days for full absorption. That's all, the dwelling can be considered ready for occupancy.

Finding earthworms for the upcoming settlement is very simple. To do this, it is enough to dig up a small layer of earth in your own garden or garden. Individuals that appeared on the top layer of soil after heavy rain take root in a special way. Also, worms can be bought at the appropriate store.

The settlement process can be divided into several stages. First you need to dig a small hole in the center of the dwelling and throw a bucket of worms into it. After that, they can be covered on top with straw or burlap. The first results of a successful settlement will be noticeable in seven days. You need to periodically observe the creatures and their behavior in the new environment. If the animals lead a mobile lifestyle, then they have taken root perfectly, and everything is in order with them.

In order for the crumbs to quickly adapt to new conditions, start feeding them only 3-4 weeks after settling. But warm water should be added to the worm at least 2 times a week.

Earthworm Care

Asking the question “how many earthworms live”, it is important to pay attention to the correct care and the conditions created. In order for animals to develop normally and fulfill their reproductive duties, they need to be provided with relative coolness, shade and a balanced food supply. Experienced experts advise adding a small amount of sand or crushed eggshells to compost manure. Once every 14 days, feed must be added to the ground. But in no case should you overfeed animals.

If you are going to breed worms in a domestic environment, you should know that these creatures are able to process almost any organic product. The main thing is that they are crushed, because animals do not have teeth.

It should be noted that before replenishing the worm with fresh food, you must make sure that the previous supply is completely eaten. Otherwise, the spineless will oversaturate and soon die. If organic compounds remain in the compost, acidity levels can skyrocket, creating deadly conditions in the soil. Also, excess feed leads to the reproduction of dangerous pests, including ticks.

In the world of fauna is the earthworm. He can rightfully be called an earthworker, because it is thanks to him that the soil on which we walk is fully saturated with oxygen and other minerals. Passing through various parts of the earth up and down, this worm makes them loose, which then makes it possible to plant cultivated plants there, as well as to engage in gardening.

General characteristics of the species

The earthworm belongs to the kingdom Animals, to the sub-kingdom Multicellular. Its type is characterized as ringed, and the class is called Small-bristle. The organization of annelids is very high compared to other types. They possess a secondary body cavity which has its own digestive, circulatory and nervous systems. They are separated by a dense layer of mesoderm cells, which serve as a kind of airbags for the animal. Also, thanks to them, each individual segment of the worm's body can autonomously exist and progress in development. The habitats of these earthly orderlies are moist soil, salty or fresh waters.

The external structure of the earthworm

The body of the worm is round. The length of representatives of this species can be up to 30 centimeters, which can include from 100 to 180 segments. The front part of the body of the worm has a slight thickening, in which the so-called genitals are concentrated. Local cells are activated during the breeding season and perform the function of laying eggs. The lateral outer parts of the body of the worm are equipped with short setae, completely invisible to the human eye. They allow the animal to move in space and touch the ground. It is also worth noting that the tummy of an earthworm is always painted in a lighter tone than its back, which has a maroon, almost brown color.

What is it like from the inside

From all other relatives, the structure of the earthworm is distinguished by the presence of real tissues that form its body. The outer part is covered with ectoderm, which is rich in mucous cells containing iron. This layer is followed by muscles, which fall into two categories: annular and longitudinal. The former are located closer to the surface of the body and are more mobile. The latter are used as auxiliary during movement, and also allow the internal organs to work more fully. The muscles of each individual segment of the worm's body can function autonomously. When moving, the earthworm alternately compresses each annular muscle group, as a result of which its body either stretches or becomes shorter. This allows him to break through new tunnels and fully loosen the earth.

Digestive system

The structure of the worm is extremely simple and clear. It originates from the mouth opening. Through it, food enters the pharynx and then passes through the esophagus. In this segment, products are cleaned from acids released by decay products. Then the food passes through the crop and enters the stomach, which contains many small muscles. Here, the products are literally ground and then enter the intestines. The worm has one middle intestine, which passes into the rear opening. In its cavity, all useful substances from food are absorbed into the walls, after which the waste leaves the body through the anus. It is important to know that earthworm excrement is saturated with potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. They perfectly nourish the earth and saturate it with minerals.

circulatory system

The circulatory system that the earthworm possesses can be divided into three segments: the abdominal vessel, the dorsal vessel, and the annular vessel, which combines the two previous ones. The blood flow in the body is closed, or annular. The annular vessel, which has the shape of a spiral, combines two arteries vital for the worm in each segment. It also branches off capillaries that come close to the outer surface of the body. The walls of the entire annular vessel and its capillaries pulsate and contract, due to which the blood is distilled from the abdominal artery to the spinal one. It is noteworthy that earthworms, like humans, have red blood. This is due to the presence of hemoglobin, which is regularly distributed throughout the body.

Breathing and nervous system

The process of breathing in an earthworm is carried out through the skin. Each cell of the outer surface is very sensitive to moisture, which is absorbed and processed. It is for this reason that worms do not live in dry sandy areas, but live where the soil is always filled with water or in the reservoirs themselves. The nervous system of this animal is much more interesting. The main "lump", in which all the neurons are concentrated in large numbers, is located in the anterior segment of the body, however, its analogues, smaller in size, are in each of them. Therefore, each segment of the worm's body can exist autonomously.

reproduction

We note right away that all earthworms are hermaphrodites, and in each organism the testes are located in front of the ovaries. These seals are located in the front of the body, and during the mating period (and they have a cross), the testes of one of the worms pass into the ovaries of the other. During the mating period, the worm secretes mucus, which is necessary for the formation of a cocoon, as well as a protein substance that the embryo will feed on. As a result of these processes, a mucous membrane is formed in which the embryos develop. After they leave her rear end forward and crawl into the ground to continue their race.

Who hasn't seen earthworms? Yes, probably everything. However, many do not even realize what benefits they have brought and are bringing to us, it is very difficult to overestimate it. This voluminous article is devoted to earthworms. The reader can learn for himself about the structure, types, and lifestyle of worms underground. If you do not know anything about these animals, then after reading the article, your attitude towards them will radically change. At the end of the publication, several videos will be shown for review. The text will be accompanied by pictures and photos.

- These are rather large invertebrates, having a size of up to 3 meters in length. Green worms that live in Russia belong to the Haplotaxida order (representatives of this order live throughout the Earth, with the exception of Antarctica) and to the Lumbricidae family, which includes about 200 species. About 97 representatives of this family live in Russia. The importance of earthworms for the earth's biosphere is very difficult to overestimate. They eat dead plant tissues and animal waste products, then they digest it all and mix the resulting mass with the soil. People have learned to use this feature for their own purposes to obtain the most valuable fertilizer - biohumus or vermicompost.

These protozoa got their name because when it rains, they crawl out of their burrows and stay on the surface of the soil. This happens because rainwater fills their holes and they have nothing to breathe and, in order to save themselves, they get out.

Biohumus is a hydrophilic structure that has the ability to accumulate moisture. That is, when there is not enough water in the soil, humus releases moisture, and when it is in excess, it accumulates. The phenomenon of humus excretion by worms is explained by studying their structure. The fact is that in the intestines of worms, after the breakdown of organic compounds, molecules of humic acids are formed, and they, in turn, come into contact with various mineral compounds.

Earthworms are very important in the formation of fertile soil, this fact was noticed by Charles Darwin. They dig holes for themselves with a depth of 60-80 centimeters, thereby loosening the soil.

To date, worms are very widely used by people for their own purposes. First of all, to obtain vermicompost. Worms are actively used in poultry and livestock for feeding. Worms are also widely used by amateur anglers as a good bait.

The structure of earthworms

The structure of earthworms simple enough. The length of individuals that are common in Russia varies from 2 to 30 centimeters. The whole body is divided into segments, they can be from 80 to 300. The earthworm moves with the help of very small setae, which are located on each segment of the body, with the exception of the very first. Setae on one segment can be from 8 to 20.

Picture: the structure of the earthworm

In the attached picture you can visually observe the structure of the worm. You can determine the front of the worm, where the mouth is, the back, where the anus is located. You can also see segments.

They are characterized by a closed circulatory system, which is quite well developed. It contains one artery and one vein. The worm breathes thanks to very sensitive skin cells. The skin contains protective mucus, it contains a large number of antiseptic enzymes. The brain is poorly developed. It consists of only two nerve nodes. It is very characteristic of worms to show the possibility of regeneration. For example, if you cut off his tail, then after a while it will grow back.

Earthworms are hermaphrodites, each having both male and female reproductive organs. Reproduction occurs due to the mating of two individuals. The genital organ of worms is a girdle, in size it occupies several anterior segments. The genital girdle stands out well on the body of the worm, it looks like a thickening. In this organ, a cocoon matures from which, after 2-3 weeks, small worms hatch.

Types of earthworms

Earthworms that live in our country can be divided into two types, which differ in biological characteristics. The first species includes those worms that feed on the surface of the soil (litter), and the second one includes those that live and feed in the soil layers (burrows). The first species lives constantly on the soil surface, its representatives do not descend into soil layers that are below 10-20 centimeters.

Representatives of worms that belong to the second species deploy their activities exclusively at a depth of 1 or more meters. If necessary, they stick out of the ground only the front part of the body.

The second species, in turn, can be divided into burrowing and burrowing worms. Burrowers live in deep layers of the soil, but do not have permanent burrows. And burrow worms constantly live in the same minks.

Earthworms of litter and burrowing species live exclusively in moist soils, for example, in places near water bodies. Burrowing worms can live in drier soils.

Lifestyle of worms underground

Worms are nocturnal. At this time of the day, you can observe their most active activity. At night they eat most of the food. Many crawl out to consume food, but rarely get out of their holes completely - the tails always remain underground. During the day, the worms plug their burrows with various objects, such as tree leaves. They can drag small particles of food into their holes.

For reference. The body of the worms is very much stretched, thanks to the numerous segments. In addition, worms have very tenacious bristles. In this regard, forcibly pulling him out of the mink is a rather difficult undertaking.

They are omnivorous. They have a very distinctive diet. First, they swallow a large amount of soil, and then they absorb only useful organic substances from it.

Worms are able to digest animal feed, such as meat, even in small quantities.

Eating food takes place in burrows. First, the worm outside gropes for a tidbit and drags it into its hole, where the meal takes place. In order to capture the food object, the worm clings very strongly to it, then pulls back with all its might.

Moreover, the worms make a supply of food for themselves. They fold it very neatly into their burrows. Worms can also purposely dig another hole just to store food. They clog such a mink with moist earth and open it only if necessary.

Occurs in the following order. First, the soil is swallowed, then the organic matter is digested inside the worm. After that, the worm crawls out and excretes excrement. Moreover, he puts the products of vital activity in one specific place. Thus, before entering the hole, a kind of pile of worm excrement is formed.

Worms life

Life of earthworms has a very long history. They played a huge role in soil formation. It is thanks to them that we see the land as it is today.

Worms are constantly engaged in burrowing activities, as a result of which the earth layer is always in motion. Worms have a very large appetite. In just one day, he can eat a volume of food that is comparable to him in weight, that is, 3-5 grams.

As a result of their activity, the worms contribute to the best growth of plants. Let's not even take into account the fertilizer they produce. Worms loosen the soil and contribute to a better ingress of oxygen and water into it. The roots of plants grow much better along the holes of worms.

As a result of the constant loosening of the soil, large objects gradually sink into the depths of the earth. Small foreign particles are gradually rubbed by the stomachs of worms and turn into sand.

Unfortunately, the number of earthworms in our country is declining. This is facilitated by the irrational use of chemicals to "fertilize" the soil. To date, 11 species of earthworms have already been included in the Red Book of Russia. Why use chemicals to fertilize the soil when there is such a miracle of nature as vermicompost?!

The role of earthworms in nature very large and hardly something overestimated. A huge role in the decomposition of organic matter belongs to worms. enrich the soil the most valuable fertilizer - humus. They can serve as an indicator: if there are a lot of them in the soil, then the land is fertile.

A complete understanding of the role of earthworms came to man relatively recently. Up to this point, they mainly resorted to the use of chemical mineral fertilizers, which destroyed the soil and all life in it. Unfortunately, many modern farmers are also in this delusion. Biohumus or vermicompost is a real magic wand for the soil. It contains a very large amount of potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen - substances that are primarily necessary for plant growth.

We've gone off topic a bit. In wildlife, worms keep to places where there is a large amount of organic waste. A good example is the forest. When the foliage falls in the fall, it will need to be put somewhere. Soil bacteria and, of course, earthworms will come to the rescue here. Immediately after the leaves fall, soil bacteria will take over and decompose it to the compost stage. Then the worms will take over the work and process the compost to the stage of vermicompost and introduce this most valuable fertilizer into the soil. Basically, this is how soil formation works.

The benefits of earthworms

During the Soviet Union, chemical mineral fertilizers began to be actively used in the Russian expanses, which eventually destroy entire layers of soil. Today we have just come to the moment when the soil begins to rapidly collapse. Chernozem soils no longer give such good results as before. Unscrupulous farmers who think only about their income use fertilizers that are dangerous for the soil on their plots of land, thereby destroying it. But the restoration of the soil takes a very long period of time, about 1 centimeter in 100 years.

The benefits of earthworms is to quickly restore the earth from chemical burns and other adverse effects. restore the very structure of the soil due to the introduction and distribution of vermicompost in it. Even if the land does not need to be restored, adding vermicompost to it will in any case be beneficial. It is impossible to pollute or burn with humus, unlike any other fertilizer. And this is due to the fact that vermicompost has a very similar structure to black soil. You can even say that humus is concentrated black soil.

With the help of worms, you can bring a very great benefit to your garden, garden or small household plot. To do this, you just need to learn how to breed worms yourself, and this is very simple to do. It is enough to dig a hole in the garden and put all the organic waste there. Over time, the worms will appear there themselves. There is another option - to buy worms. You can also breed worms in separate boxes. As organic waste is eaten, the resulting vermicompost must be collected and scattered around the site.

Worms significantly improve the structure of the soil, improve water and air exchange and water exchange in it. In the garden or garden, it is necessary to create all conditions for the development of worms. It would be most rational to build a special box in which in the summer you can put all the weeds and other organic waste. The next year, with a large number of worms, you can already get ready-made fertilizer from this box, which can be used in different ways (see photo below). Some advise to simply scatter it around the site, while others bury it, and the third generally prepare liquid top dressing based on it. In general, there are a lot of ways to use it.

Earthworms - Vermiculture

A sufficiently large number of farmers and ordinary people who have their own household plots are engaged in breeding earthworms in order to obtain biohumus. And this trend cannot but rejoice. Vermiculture may soon replace harmful chemical fertilizers.

Breeding worms can also be considered as a good business idea. At minimal cost, you can get the most valuable fertilizer and sell it for good money. It is especially profitable to engage in this business, who has a livestock of poultry or farm animals and does not know where to put their waste products. Farm animal droppings are excellent food for worms that turn into vermicompost.

In this part of the article, one cannot fail to say about the type of worms that is the most productive - the Californian. California worms were bred in 1959 in the USA. These earthworms are most often used in this area due to their enormous productivity. The California worm eats as much as the usual one, but its reproduction rate is 100 times higher, and its lifespan is 4 times longer. However, they will have to provide certain conditions of detention.

Before launching worms into the substrate, it must be prepared. It needs to be turned into compost. It is most convenient to use ordinary metal barrels with a volume of 200 liters.


At home, you can breed worms in various containers. A wooden box with small holes at the bottom to drain excess water is best suited for these purposes, a substrate is laid there and worms are launched. In one summer, a box of organic waste can be turned into vermicompost. See photo:


Compost is laid here, and non-composted organic waste can be placed on top

You can use boxes of a different design, such as plastic, in which fruits and vegetables are transported:


The disadvantage of a plastic box is that the holes at the bottom are too large, through which the worm can escape from it.

earthworm video

“The appetizing fruits and vegetables that you see are not fake. These beautiful fruits are real, and most importantly - environmentally friendly. And all this is due to the fact that they were obtained with the help of an amazing fertilizer - biohumus. In this video, we will talk about earthworms of the prospector breed. The video is very helpful and educational.

This video was shown on television, this is the Galileo program. The report was prepared about earthworms.



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