


Urban worm food –is a mix of alfalfa, kelp, chicken mash, soybean hulls, and other protein-rich foods healthy for worms and can be readily purchased from stores.Below are several foods worms like to most: However, they are mostly known to feed on organic matter. Worms’ diets vary depending on the habitats they inhabit, as previously discussed. Worm casting provides a natural, well-balanced diet for plants. In the process, they fertilize the soil and contribute significantly to the environment. Worms spend a large portion of time feeding on dirt and excrete (poop) as they go. The earth contains lots of organic matter, from dead animals to decaying organic matter, usually fused with soil.Įarthworms feed on dirt rich in decaying matter and obtain most of their nutrients from the soil. The process is known as transverse fission. Most worms reproduce by splitting themselves in half, bringing forth an identical individual. The good news is that their feces (worm casting) make good soil manure.Īs hermaphrodites, worms possess both male and female reproductive organsĪnd don’t require a mate to reproduce. Worms consume so much food that their feces is equal to their body weight. Earthworms ingest the food together with the soil then excrete the undigested food in the form of worm casting. You can find earthworms in soils rich in decomposing organic matter, normally in lawns, gardens, and irrigated farms, among other places.Įarthworms are cold-blooded, meaning their body temperatures vary with the surrounding temperature. They leave their burrows at night, mostly when the weather is damp and cloudy, searching for food. Water-dwelling worms will also feed on sand and soil.Įarthworms are known as burrowers, meaning they live underground. In contrast, worms that live in water bodies make a meal of bacteria and algae. Parasitic worms depend on foods consumed by their hosts to survive. Few species of worms use specialized muscles to advance on their own. Many worms lack muscles that help them move, and most are dependant on animals or other forces as a means of transportation. These are products added to the soil to improve the fertility of the ground. Other species of worms are known to be parasitic and inhabit the bodies of living organisms.įrom a human perspective, worms are beneficial as soil conditioners. Worms are widely distributed, with some inhabiting marine, freshwater, or terrestrial areas. Some are microscopic, whereas others can grow up to 58 meters long such as the African giant earthworm.

They differ in size depending on the species. Worms have long cylindrical bodies with no limbs and eyes.
