Lumbricus terrestris, the common earthworm or nightcrawler, is a large deep-burrowing worm native to Europe. It drags leaves into permanent vertical burrows and is among the most important soil engineers in temperate farmland.
1Description
A large, pinkish-red to brown worm with a darker, flattened tail end. The clitellum sits around segments 31–37 and is often orange in adults.
2Ecology
Anecic worms live in a single permanent vertical burrow. At night L. terrestris comes to the surface, keeping its tail in the burrow, and pulls leaves and other litter down. Its burrows improve drainage and aeration, and mixing organic matter into deeper soil layers makes it a key species for soil health.
Outside its native range it is considered invasive in some North American forests, where it removes the leaf litter layer that native plants depend on.
3Reproduction
It breeds slowly: a mature worm produces only a few cocoons per year, usually with a single hatchling each. For this reason it is not suited to worm bins, and most stock for bait is collected rather than bred.
4Keeping
Store at 4–12 °C in damp bedding. At room temperature it weakens within days.