Each nation has its own culinary traditions, some refuse to eat foods that are considered ordinary for most of us, and at the same time eat what we would not call food in our wildest fantasies. For example, what does a person brought up in a standard European culture think about whether it is possible to eat earthworms? But the Indians of South America are happy to eat these creatures, which they call "pasture". Residents of some parts of Asia will not refuse such a delicacy.
The benefits of earthworms
According to doctors, there is nothing surprising in this, because the body of earthworms is almost 100% protein. From this point of view, they are not only quite edible, but also very useful for humans.
For example, in the 90s, one of the US scientific institutes, which dealt with the problems of baby food, conducted a very interesting study. It turned out that the worm protein is not only easily absorbed by the child's body, but does not cause allergic reactions at all. In addition, this is the most affordable product in terms of the cost of its production.
Many will be surprised, but Approximately 60% of all US baby food contains worm protein. And children who are not yet prejudiced eat such food with pleasure. So, when an adult twitches at the mere thought of eating a worm, then this is just the result of his stereotyped thinking, nothing more.
Even such recognized “masterpieces” of healthy food as soy protein concentrate or fishmeal are inferior in protein content to powder made from specially processed earthworms. All this allows you to confidently give a positive answer to the question of whether it is possible to eat earthworms.
Main rule
The above does not mean at all that earthworms can be eaten without any preliminary preparation. Proper processing is critical in this matter. Some Boy Scouts believe that simply rinsing the collected worms is enough to wash off all the slime and dirt from them. But is it possible to eat earthworms after such processing?
The fact is that the body of worms is filled with earth, the components of which serve as food for them. Therefore, before use, it is necessary to soak the worms for at least a few hours. However, this method does not provide a complete guarantee of security.
It will be much more efficient to place the worms in a jar with a special filler substance. The essence of this method is that the worms will begin to eat the filler, and it will naturally squeeze the earth out of their insides. The favorite delicacy of earthworms are finely ground acorns or water chestnuts. You can also grind the leaves of sorrel, dandelion, nettle or shepherd's purse. Such a filler is completely harmless to humans, so it will be possible to safely use worms treated in this way.
If we are talking about field conditions in which you do not have the opportunity to cook acorn flour and finely chop wild herbs, then you can use another very simple way to cleanse the worms. To do this, they need to be kept in salt water until they become transparent. Then, they must be thoroughly rinsed in running water and you can start cooking.
Cooking methods
The main question asked by people who first encountered this topic is whether it is possible to eat earthworms raw, or is there a special method for preparing them. In principle, worms are suitable for eating even raw, but it is still better to subject them to at least minimal cooking.
The most elementary way is to boil. In order not to expose the protein to destruction and to preserve as much as possible beneficial features such food, it is recommended to throw the worms already into boiling water and boil no more than 5-7 minutes. This dish is simply called forest pasta. There is another method - before cooking, soak the worms in a container with flour.
Also earthworms are suitable for baking. To do this, they are first thoroughly washed, then dried, wrapped in foil and buried in half-cooled coals.
These are the most simple ways, available to anyone who wants to join previously unknown culinary traditions. There are also more complex recipes. For example, in the countries of Southeast Asia, the menu of expensive restaurants contains very refined dishes, in which the central place is given to earthworms. The most favorite food in such establishments is cutlets, minced meat for which is prepared from coarsely chopped worms with the addition of butter, sour cream, eggs, lemon zest and white pepper. They say that it turns out simply divinely delicious.
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Role earthworms in nature and in human life is difficult to overestimate. The noble earthworm is an indispensable participant in the creation of fertile soil, and, consequently, the creation of food - the livelihood of mankind. Although we do not often think about it, but without earthworms, our existence could become more complicated.
Earthworms: description
-it is a segmented tube-shaped worm. It lives in moist soil and feeds on organic matter. Its average life span is 4 to 8 years. Depending on the type of specific soil inhabitants, an earthworm can sometimes live for more than 10 years. The digestive system of the worm runs along the entire length of its body, and the movement of a set of muscles of the intestinal line contributes to the digestion of food.
In addition, this small earth dweller has a central and peripheral nervous system and is also able to breathe through the skin. In the body of an earthworm, connective tissues (bones or cartilage) are completely absent. Its long, fluid-filled body functions as a hydrostatic skeleton. Circular and longitudinal muscles on the periphery of each segment allow the indicated invertebrate to move.
Did you know?The structure of the body of an earthworm allows us to confidently call it one of the strangest inhabitants of the soil, becausehe has no eyes, no ears, not even lungs. At the same time, it has several hearts, and the mucous liquid covering the skin of the wormprotects it from predators, as it has an unpleasant taste for them.
Types of worms
earthworms
- This is a large group of species that belong to different families. Varieties of the earthworm can be found on all continents of our planet. In total, there are more than 2000 species. Of these, about 40 are widespread in Europe, and the most famous are: the common earthworm (Lumbricus terrestries) and the dung worm (Eisenia faetida).
common earthworm can reach 30 cm in length; has a brown or red body; lives in fields, orchards and orchards. He very intensively digs deep passages in the ground (up to 3 meters deep).
Muckworm slightly smaller than normal (from 4 to 14 cm in length). Its body is rusty in color with yellow stripes around the rings. The name of the dung worm speaks for itself: it is found exclusively in compost soil. To survive, this invertebrate needs land enriched with organic material. The ideal temperature range for the dung worm is +15...+25°C.
Earthworms are also distinguished by biological features, that is, by types of food and habitat in the soil.
Based on these signs, two main types are distinguished:
- worms that live on the surface of the soil;
- worms that live in the soil.
Did you know? The "earthworm" got its name back inXVI century.Most likely, people gave it such a name due to its active life: in rainy weather, the worm comes to the surface, asotherwise, you risk drowning.
Features of the life cycle of earthworms
The life cycle of most earthworm species can be broken down into four stages:
- The first stage: hatching of worms from a cocoon. The process of egg maturation takes from 2 weeks to 3 months, after which the embryos leave their cocoons. The warmer the climate, the faster new individuals will hatch, and in very warm weather, eggs fully mature within 14 days (for comparison, in cold conditions, this process takes about 60 days).
- Second stage: withmaturation of adults. Already in the early stages of life (after 2-3 months), young worms begin to develop their own reproductive system, and within one year there is a complete formation of a new adult organism.
- Third stage: reproduction. Earthworms are hermaphrodites, meaning each individual has both male and female reproductive organs. In spite of given fact, to reproduce offspring, worms must mate. The two worms stick together and form a shell that gives them space to exchange sperm. Fertilization occurs in both bodies.
- Fourth stage: aboutweaving a cocoon. After the fertilization process is over, the worms separate and form cocoons inside their bodies, after which they roll into the soil for further maturation. A standard cocoon contains 1 to 5 embryos.
What are useful worms in the garden
Breeding and promoting earthworms in the garden brings great benefits to the soil. If they are contained in the ground in sufficient quantities, they can play a decisive role in the successful cultivation of plants. These gentle invertebrate creatures are the gardener's best friends. Some gardeners even refer to them as "nature's first agriculturalists" because the richer the soil, the more earthworms you'll find in it. But what specific benefit do worms bring to the soil? Firstly, they will do all the hard work for you, as they are able to loosen the earth, improve its structure, preserve and increase fertility.
As they move through the garden, they create tunnels that, like plowing, allow air and water to reach the seeds and roots of plants. In this way, earthworms act like tiny, invisible plowmen. Moreover, they provide plants with nutrition and protect them from pests and diseases. Worms are the main producers of stable humus, as they feed on organic matter such as rotten leaves, grass clippings, and even dirt.
Digesting food, these spineless form organic feces rich in phosphorus, calcium, nitrogen and magnesium, which help further enrich the soil and plant growth. Therefore, finding a lot of worms in your garden and wondering if they are harmful to the garden, the answer will be no.
Did you know? Few people know thatCharles Darwin (famous naturalist who proposed the theory of natural selection) was interested in earthworms. The scientist observed and studied worms for 40 years and as a result published a book about them called "Formation of the vegetative layer of the earth by the activity of earthworms and observations on their lifestyle" (1881).
How to increase the number of worms in the garden
Earthworms and soil fertility levels are closely related. Gardeners wishing to increase the number of earthworms in their garden soil can do so by adding more organic matter. In particular, soil mulching will also help to attract earthworms. As a surface coating for the soil use the most different materials: humus, fallen leaves, grass clippings, manure, manure compost.
Breeding worms in a wormhole
Earthworms need only a few conditions in which they will thrive and reproduce: adequate moisture, darkness, and food. The best time for the organization of the worm, spring or early summer, since in this case the worms will have time to multiply and get stronger before the onset of winter. So, let's figure out how to breed worms in the garden.
How to make and prepare a worm
As a dwelling for worms, you can use any container - a box, a large trough, an old bath. Suitable conditions for earthworms can also be provided on open compost, which has its advantages. However, in this case, you need to take care of additional protection of invertebrates. The plot of land allocated for the worm is usually protected metal mesh, and on top covered with a special fine mesh.
For convenience when further care behind the worm, its size should not be too large. At the bottom of the future house for worms, you need to lay out compost (a layer of about 40 cm) and pour it well with warm water (preferably rain). Next, you should cover the litter with straw, and let it brew for 5-6 days. The home is now ready to move in.
Settlement of worms
Earthworms for settlement can be found in your own garden (individuals collected immediately after rain take root best) or simply buy. For a good worm, which will constantly provide you with biohumus, you need from 500 to 1000 individuals per 1 m². Let's start the settlement process. In the center of the dwelling, it is necessary to make a hole and knock over a bucket of worms there. Then carefully distribute the worms and cover with straw or burlap on top. The first results can be assessed in a week. Periodically observe how the worms feel in the new conditions. If they are mobile and hide from daylight, then everything is in order.
Important! So that earthworms can easily adapt,feeding should begin only after 3-4 weeks after settling, and before that, do not forget to regularly water the worm with warm settled water.
How to care for worms in a wormhole
The answer to the question "How long do earthworms live?" Directly depends on the correct care for them and the conditions created. For a normal existence, worms need moisture (their place of residence periodically needs to be watered) and relative coolness, so the dwelling must be moved to the shade. Invertebrates also love it when a little sand is added to the compost, and crushed eggshells are scattered on top. In addition, they need to provide enough food, so once every two weeks, do not forget to add fresh food to the worm. However, you should never overfeed worms.
For those who are wondering what earthworms eat, we note that they eat almost any organic material that is available in the garden. The only requirement is that the food must be crushed, as worms do not have teeth. Also try to maintain a consistent feed composition.
Important!Before adding a new batch of food to the wormhole, make sure that the worms have eaten the previous one, as it is necessary to avoid an excess accumulation of uneaten food. Food leftovers in worm-infested compost can significantly increase its acidity, thereby creatingdeadly conditions for your worms. In addition, excess food can attract pests such as mites.
How to collect biohumus worms
The main purpose of breeding earthworms is the production of vermicompost. Biohumus or vermicompost- uh This is an organic, environmentally friendly fertilizer obtained as a result of the processing of household and industrial waste by worms. In other words, through a natural digestive process, earthworms turn various waste products into natural fertilizers. For wild plants, vegetables, flowers and trees, manure processing by worms is a good chance to get quality fertilizer.
The worms mainly live in the upper layer of the soil, while the vermicompost produced by them accumulates in the lower layer. To collect it, you need to carefully remove the top layer with worms and transfer it to a new prepared container. The bottom layer is sieved and laid out on the beds.
How to protect the worm for the winter
Cold weather can adversely affect the success of breeding earthworms in the country. Therefore, in winter there is a certain set of tasks when caring for the worm. 
The following list presents the main measures for protecting and processing wormwood at low temperatures:
- Feeding reduction. During the period when the temperature around the wormhole drops below +2...+3°C, it is desirable to radically reduce the amount of food. Around the same time, the worms themselves stop eating and fall into hibernation.
- Moving the worm to a warmer place. Frosts are very dangerous for the worm, as worms can die from low temperatures. Therefore, the dwelling of the spineless must be moved to a warmer place. Try to keep the temperature around the wormhole above +4°C. Also, do not forget about the ventilation of the room. Worms need oxygen and fresh air, and they quickly get sick from their lack.
- Controlling the movement of worms. In cold conditions, the worms begin to move actively. If you have a large number of pets in your wormhole, this can create a huge mess. The worms will tend to leave the wormhole en masse in search of more optimal living conditions, but the trouble is that you will eventually find them dead on the floor. Therefore, be vigilant and watch the movement of your wards.
As you can see, breeding earthworms is not a very troublesome business, but it is rewarding. These useful earth dwellers provide a natural fertilizer - vermicompost, which is often called the unique and most valuable fertilizer of the new generation, which once again proves the irreplaceable role of worms in the soil.
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To be satisfied with the results of his work, the gardener must know a lot about the soil and overcome a number of difficulties. His primary concern is the cultivation of the soil.
The technological properties of the soil are determined by its friability and density. There is a whole detachment of helpers who improve and ennoble the soil. Biological life is represented in it by the products of vital activity of useful and harmful living organisms: microorganisms (molds, lower fungi) and macroorganisms (earthworms and arthropods, moles, mice and gophers). Traces of vital activity of soil organisms are visually visible in the humus horizon of the soil. In fertile soil per 1 m? there are 1000-200000 macrofauna units. Their main role is to crush, crush and destroy plant and animal residues in the soil, as well as to eat and damage plants.
The most common beneficial representatives of soil macrofauna are earthworms. For one year, they process up to 0.1 kg of plant residues per 1 m2. At the same time, 2.5 kg of soil passes through their digestive tract, which, as a result, acquires a new property and structure. In addition, earthworms make channels in the soil, thereby increasing its porosity, air and water permeability. To a large extent, ants, springtails, centipedes, two-winged flies and their pupae, butterfly caterpillars and some vertebrates also loosen the soil.
Most people still have the idea that worms are only worthy of contempt - they can be crushed, destroyed, poisoned. Everyone has seen earthworms. But does everyone know that these are the guarantors of our well-being and health?
Earthworms are large invertebrate soil animals - saprophages that feed on plant debris. In the soils of our country, there are 97 species.
Passing a mass of dead plant tissues through their intestines, the worms destroy them and mix them with the ground. They also have the merit in the processing of composts, which after a while turn into a free-flowing, friable material consisting mostly of granular excrement of worms. These are water-resistant, water-intensive, hydrophilic structures that constitute the most valuable forms of humus in the soil and are centers of microbiological activity. The fact is that processes develop in the intestines of worms in which low-molecular decay products of organic substances are converted into molecules of humic acids. The latter form complex compounds with the mineral components of the soil - calcium humates. And they, as you know, make the soil structural, preventing wind and water erosion of the soil.
Worms absorb not only humus, but also bacteria, algae, fungi and their spores, the simplest organisms of nematodes.
The number of bacteria in the soil is huge. 1 gram of virgin soil contains 300-600 million, and one gram of cultivated land contains up to 3 billion bacteria. In good compost or manure-fertilized soil, the number of microorganisms is even higher. Soil microflora and microfauna are the main source of protein nutrition for earthworms. It is almost completely digested in their alimentary canal. Their waste contains a wide variety of enzymes, antibiotics, amino acids, vitamins, and other biologically active substances that disinfect pathogenic microflora. This is facilitated not only by worms, but they dominate, accounting for 50-70% of the total biomass of soil invertebrates.
Earthworms act as regulators of the activity of microorganisms, as orderlies and deodorizers of the soil, which is enriched with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, balanced among themselves. natural technology. With a high abundance in composts, they process it into a highly effective humus fertilizer. In the excrement of worms of natural populations, the content of humus is 11-15%, and in artificially bred - up to 35%. This is a wonderful fertilizer for plants. Their composition is nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium: 5-5-3. Abroad, this fertilizer is sold at garden centers for $25 per pound. To grow three earthworms, the land must receive annually half a kilogram of high-quality organic fertilizer. A worm-friendly garden can have up to 25 earthworms per square meter. This is facilitated by tons of nutritious organic mass.
There is another specific feature of worms that is very useful for the soil. Over the summer, a population of 100 worms per 1 square meter lays a kilometer of passages in the soil, making it loose, water and breathable. It has been established that the worm passes through the alimentary canal an amount of earth with organic matter equal to the weight of its body per day. The active activity of worms continues in the middle lane 200 days a year. The amount of humus is directly dependent on their amount. No other animals and even agro-meliorative methods can not be compared with worms.
In the distant past, a caged bird was used to test the toxicity of the air in a deep mine. Until the bird died, the miner knew that the mine had good air to breathe. Earthworms are a reliable natural indicator of the health and fertility of garden soil. Dig into your garden. Look for at least five fat earthworms in one cubic meter of earth. Small, skinny earthworms, or worse, their absence, are an indication that the earth is in need of organic material.
Earthworms help neutralize soil acidity by releasing calcium carbonate. They prefer neutral soil acidity. Kilometer-long burrows of worms deep in the ground are filled with air and moisture. They develop plant roots. Worms exterminate the thatch that covers the lawn and reduce the number of harmful nematodes.
Direct Sun rays can kill earthworms within minutes, which is why they only come out of their burrows at night in search of food. They favorably treat the soil with a temperature of 10...15°C, retreating to their deep burrows on hot days. Earthworms avoid unfavorable soil conditions, flee or die quickly. Even if the distribution of these "garden canaries" is small, the ground probably contains many dormant eggs. Therefore, try to create a reliable home for the worms and favorable conditions for their development.
Ensure sufficient food supplies. Earthworms are very fond of rotted leaves, grass clippings, compost, rotted cow or rabbit manure, kitchen waste - vegetables, fruit scraps, egg leftovers, etc. Kitchen waste creates a very acidic environment similar to pickled food. If you add ash or other powdery material to the ground, then it should be moistened with water beforehand, since dry material can kill earthworms.
Reduce or abandon deep tillage. The roots of plants, rotting, create food for earthworms, as well as channels through which air and moisture enter to great depths. Over time, earthworms rise from their deep burrows, overcoming several tons of earth, creating channels. As a result, the soil becomes breathable. Its moisture content increases.
Digging with a shovel or pitchfork, and even worse, deep plowing, destroys all the work of worms, eliminates all channels created by worms and roots, and worsens the fertility and quality of soils. After the rains, the soil becomes compacted. As a result, oxygen does not enter the soil, organic matter does not decompose. Aerobic bacteria, located within 10 cm of the topsoil, cannot live without oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria, on the contrary, live in the deep layers. Oxygen is detrimental to them. Both are useful in doing the work of creating soil fertility.
Deep digging of the soil deprives both of them of comfortable conditions, they die, and the soil becomes sterile. Thus, the desire to loosen the soil as deep as possible actually turns into sabotage. Of course, when developing virgin lands, one-time digging is inevitable. In subsequent years, it should be excluded.
The soil should be cultivated to a depth of no more than 5 cm. That is, only loosen, since living beneficial bacteria, worms and free channels for air and moisture are deeper.
A shovel and pitchfork are used to prepare planting pits, holes, and landscaping. Organic fertilizer is applied superficially, followed by loosening the soil to a depth of no more than 5 cm. Annual application of organic material, that is, mulching the soil, covering it with straw, peat, grass, sawdust, paper, compost or any other material, leads to an increase in the fertile layer. Mulch delays heat transfer between the soil and the atmosphere. The amplitude of temperature fluctuations is significantly reduced. In addition, mulched soil retains worm-friendly moisture. There is no need for worms to rise from the depth. They work within the development of the root system of plants and immediately benefit. This also contributes to the sowing of green manure. But do not allow green manure to grow above 30 cm. They should be cut at a depth of 2-5 cm with a flat cutter or weeder. The cut earth is left in its original place. The grass acts as a mulch. The remaining roots without nutrition will die, creating new channels for air and moisture, as well as for the roots of newly planted cultivated plants.
Avoid chemicals. Worms breathe through the entire surface of the skin. Therefore, they are sensitive to pesticides, fungicides and other chemicals that are used to repel and kill pests and diseases. Chemical fertilizers are the strongest poisons for all living things. Reducing the amount of organic matter leads to the destruction of the soil, the loss of humus.
Keep the soil moist but not wet. Earthworms must be kept moist at all times. They cannot live or hatch eggs in dry ground. In a few centimeters of kitchen waste, in decayed leaves, mowed grass, there is food for worms. For these useful creatures, food must always be in sufficiently moist soil.
Farm worms. The earthworms that live in your garden soil and compost waste are not the same thing. Compost worms are sometimes referred to as "house worms". They are specially bred in the warm conditions of compost heaps. They will die of starvation if placed in the ground. Composting with earthworms happens everywhere - from the garden heap to the bin, box, trash can. Under favorable conditions, they multiply rapidly.
Kitchen waste with a wealth of organic matter is one of the best natural fertilizers that ennobles the soil, increasing its fertility.
The easiest way to improve soil is to preserve and propagate earthworms.
V. Danilova, candidate of biological sciences T. Barkhatova, gardener
Many people underestimate the importance of the work of earthworms. These representatives of the invertebrate kingdom are known primarily for the fact that in large quantities crawl out of the ground after a 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. By 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 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 useful 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 a few possible causes why do 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 in such a way as to create 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 varieties differ 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.
Despite the fact that in the eyes of people, earthworms are the quietest and most useful creatures, in fact, they wage cruel wars of conquest all over the world. And although their role in maintaining soil health is simply invaluable, the general laws of ecology are nevertheless the same for everyone. Therefore, even the most beautiful and most useful earthworm, when it enters a foreign ecosystem, becomes, first of all, an enemy that threatens the stability of this ecosystem. This statement can be confirmed by the example of the forests of North America, in which, before the arrival of Europeans, earthworms simply did not exist. And, according to environmentalists, it would be better if these worms never appeared here.
The fact is that not so long ago, experts made a statement that earthworms violate the carbon and nitrogen balance of the soils of North American forests. According to experts, the main culprit is the European worms of the Lumbricidae group. However, it is possible that these could be Asian species from the genus Amynthas, which were also repeatedly seen on another continent, thanks to overseas travels. Moreover, numerous studies in this area have shown that Amynthas worms can also change the ratio of nutrients in the soil and even displace other species from the ecosystem.
In the journal Soil Biology & Biochemistry, an article was published by scientists from the University of Georgia in the USA, which describes the relationship of the Asian earthworm Amynthas agrestis with soil centipedes from the bipedal class, the oldest inhabitants of North American forests. Researchers in the lab recreated an area of local forests with fallen leaves, where they settled together worms and centipedes.
During the experiment, it turned out that both types of insects compete for the same food. But at the same time, the worms were in a more advantageous position: when food disappeared from the surface of the earth, they went underground in search of it. Centipedes could not do this, and they died without food. Thus, due to lack of food, all centipedes disappeared three months ahead of schedule. Although, it cannot be said unequivocally that only worms had advantages. For example, scientists have noticed that in order to control the number of worms, centipedes eat their eggs. However, in the absence of arthropods, nothing prevented the worms from multiplying. Scientists have come to the conclusion that by supporting centipedes, it is possible to limit the rights of dangerous worms.
Although, it should be noted that such invasions of worms are not always harmful to the environment. For example, last year an article was published in the journal Soil Biology and Biochemistry, which talked about how useful invasive worms of the same genus Amynthas turned out to be for tropical forests. An article appeared in another edition of Pedobiologica, which reported that alien worms were very useful for Amazonian soils, where mass deforestation had previously been carried out and active agricultural activities were carried out. The authors of the article reported that the worms increase the level of nutrients in these lands and contribute to the rapid growth of plants. True, some ecologists believe that in the future, perhaps, the advantages from these newcomers will not be able to be blocked by the disadvantages, since once they appear, new species will not leave, and the other species that they have displaced will not return.
Thus, the apparent benefit to the soil, however, comes at a price in the form of outcast species that often disappear altogether.