Lumbricus terrestris

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Common Earthworm

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Annelida
Class:	Clitellata
Subclass:	Oligochaeta
Order:	Haplotaxida
Family:	Lumbricidae
Genus:	Lumbricus
Species:	L. terrestris

Binomial name

Lumbricus terrestris
Linnaeus, 1758

Lumbricus terrestris (L.) is a large reddish worm native to Europe, but now also widely distributed elsewhere around the world (along with several other lumbricids), due to human introductions. In some areas where it has been introduced, some people consider it to be a serious pest species, since it is out-competing locally native worms.

Through much of Europe it is the largest naturally occurring species of earthworm, typically reaching 20-25cm long when extended (though in parts of southern Europe there are native species which are much larger). It has an unusual habit of copulating on the surface at night, which makes it more visible than most other earthworms.

[edit] Common names

Because it is widely known, Lumbricus terrestris goes under a variety of common names. In the British Isles, it is primarily called the Common Earthworm. In North America, the term Nightcrawler (or Vitalis) is more common. In Canada, it is also called the Dew Worm, and in Britain, Lob Worm (though that name is also applied to a marine polychaete). In the rest of the world, most references are just to the scientific name, though, with occasional reference to the above names.

Although this is not the most abundant earthworm, not even in its native range, it is a very conspicuous and familiar earthworm species in garden and agricultural soils of the temperate zone, and is frequently seen on the surface, unlike most other earthworms. It is also used as the example earthworm for millions of biology students around the world, even in areas where the species does not exist. However, this name can be a source of confusion, since in most of the world, other species are more typical. For example, through much of the unirrigated temperate areas of the world, the "common earthworm" is actually Aporrectodea (=Allolobophora) trapezoides, which in those areas is a similar size and dark color to Lumbricus terrestris.

[edit] Biology

Lumbricus terrestris is an anecic worm, that is, it forms permanent deep burrows and comes to the surface to feed, as opposed to burrowing through the soil for its food as most other earthworms do. An unusual habit of this species is to pull leaves into the mouth of its burrow where they partially decay before being eaten. While they generally feed on plant material, they have been observed feeding on dead insects and feces.

The potential life span of Lumbricus terrestris is unknown, though it has been kept in the laboratory for 6 years. Official estimates of 4 to 8 years for a general life span are probably reasonable.

In parts of Europe, notably the Atlantic fringe of northwestern Europe, it is now locally endangered due to predation by the New Zealand Flatworm (Arthurdendyus triangulatus) and the Australian Flatworm (Australoplana sanguinea), two predatory flatworms accidentally introduced from New Zealand and Australia. These predators are very efficient earthworm eaters, being able to survive for lengthy periods with no food, so therefore still persisting even when their prey has dropped to unsustainably low populations. In some areas, this is having a seriously adverse effect on the soil structure and quality. The soil aeration and organic material mixing previously done by the earthworms has ceased in some areas.