What do earthworms look like?

What do earthworms look like?

Size:

• 6 mm - 3000 mm in length.

Body:

• Elongated, with many segments.
• Appears soft.

Antennae:

• Absent.

Eyes:

• Absent.

Mouthparts:

• Opening for siphoning food items.

Wings:

• Absent.

Limbs:

• None.

Body tip:

• Cerci (tail-like appendages) absent.

Where are earthworms found?

• In many habitats but the majority occupy moist well-vegetated regions.
• In soil, leaf litter, and under rocks and logs.
• Some are associated with water environments such as freshwater mud and saltwater shorelines.

What do earthworms do?

• Earthworms are solitary, though they may group together to feed and/or mate.
• When disturbed they recoil, withdraw into burrows, jump and thrash about, drop tail segments, or exude body fluids some of which are noxious.
• They feed on dead or decaying animal and plant material. Earthworms that operate in soils ingest vast volumes of soil particles with organic matter.
• Earthworms discarded waste products as castings, trails of well-digested organic material. This material maybe discarded on the soil surface, an indicator of earthworms being present.
• Some form burrows, which they exit from to grab food items.
• They are active during the day or night.

What looks similar?

• Leeches can be distinguished from earthworms as they have a large sucker at end of their body, which they use to feed and move. They are also all external parasites feeding on body fluids of hosts.