Worms

The best kind of worms for composting are "red worms" or "red wrigglers". They are often found in old compost piles, but are different from the earth-worms you would normally find in the ground. Their scientific names are Eisenia foetida and Lumbricus rubellus. These worms have a big appetite, reproduce quickly, and thrive in confinement. They can eat more than their own weight in food every day!

Adult red wigglers will be two to three inches long and dark red in color. The younger worms are light-colored and shorter in length, ranging from one inch to a tiny, one-eighth of of an inch. If you look carefully, the tiniest worms appear as white wiggling threads. These take about two months to reach breeding size. Red wiggler eggs look like tiny tan beads. They normally hatch within three weeks, producing two to seven worms from each egg.

Main Page

Worm Bins

Bedding Materials

Feeding

Harvest & Use

Return to Home Page