An Introduction to Redworms
There are literally thousands of earthworms but only a few are as versatile and hearty as the redworm. Depending on which part of the world you live, you may know them as manure worms, English reds, hybrid reds, red wigglers or Ozark tiger worms. The scientific name for this worm is Eisenia Fetidia.
Redworms serve several useful purposes. As a consumer of organic waste material, they are used by institutions and individuals to compost kitchen, garden, and office waste. Gardeners reap the additional benefit of using the castings to improve the soil. Anglers find the redworm to be a great fish bait for catching a wide variety of pan fish. Reworms can also be found in science classrooms as a live teaching tool or in labs for various experiments.
Redworms are very efficient and require few resources. In order to be productive, the redworm needs a worm bed, water, organic matter, and a little maintenance. Food includes manure (horse, cow, pig, rabbit), decaying fruits and vegetables, table scraps, newspapers, and cardboard. Provided with these basic needs, redworms will digest food waste, produce castings, and continue to reproduce. Therefore, composting with worms, also referred to as vermicomposting, can be done easily on any scale you prefer.
Interesting facts about the redworm:
- The species is fetida. The genus is Eisenia
- The redworm is bisexual. That is, each redworm has both male and female reproductive organs.
- A healthy redworm can produce an egg capsule every 7-10 days.
- It takes up to 21 days for a capsule to hatch
- A capsule will produce 4-8 worms
- A redworm reaches maturity in approximately 90 days.
- When a band or collar forms, the redworm is mature
- A redworm will get no larger than 3 to 3 1/2 inches in length
- 2000 worms can eat one pound of food waste per week.
- process approximately one half of more of their own weight in food or bedding every 24 hours
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