Fun facts about compost worms

Worm biology

Breeding:

• Worms are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs
• Worms reach breeding age at 2-3 months old
• Worm lay eggs rather than have live babies. Each egg capsule contains 2-22 babies, with an average of 4 babies emerging from each capsule
• Worms can double their population in 6-8 weeks - so it takes up to 6 months to reach a population of 4,000 suitable for the average family
• Worms will limit their population to the space they have and the food resources available

Feeding:

• 1,000 healthy adult worms weighs approximately 250 grams - therefore each adult worm weighs an average of 0.25 grams.
• Worms can eat half their own body weight daily
• If worms are underfed, they will stop breeding as instinct tells them there are not enough resources to sustain them

Compost worm breeds

There are three main types of composting worms: 

1.    Tiger worms (Eisenia fetida) 
2.    Red Wrigglers (Lumbricus rubellus) 
3.    Indian Blue Worms (Perionyx excavatus)

There are 3,500 species of worms throughout the world, and all have different characteristics and environmental requirements. Compost worms are 'high density' surface dwellers, residing in rich humus in the top 20-60cm of soil. They do not survive in nutrient poor environments - think of them like city dwellers living the lifestyle - lots of rich food, and apartment-style living. 

Native Earth Worms

Native earth worms on the other hand are deep diggers, living in poorer depths of the soil. They do not tolerate a rich environment and are more sparsely distributed. Think of them more like your rural farmers working the land for long term gain. 

This is why the earth worms you find in your garden do not do well in worm farms, and compost worms do not necessarily do well out in the environment. It would be like an episode of "A Farmer Wants A Wife" taking a worm out of its habitat and comfort zone and expecting it to thrive in a completely unfamiliar environment. 

The largest worm in Australia is the giant Gippsland worm (Megascolides australis).