Earthworm Eggs: Here's How To Identify Them And Fun Facts

An earthworm is a type of earth observation invertebrate in the phylum Annelida.

They have a tube-within-a-tube body structure, are externally segmented with inner segmentation, and also have setae on any and all segments. They can be found to live anywhere in soil or water, as they are temperature enabled.

Earthworms are found in the environment, where they consume a wide range of organic materials. Organic material, living protozoa, anaerobic bacteria, nematodes, microbes, and fungi are all examples of organic material. The digestive tract of an earthworm runs through the middle of its body.

This worm breathes by perspiring through its skin. It has a dual coelomic liquids transport system that travels within the fluid-filled coelom.

These worms are shipped to all sorts of countries as feed for fishing. The earthworm also has a straightforward, closed circulatory system.

It has a central nervous system as well as a peripheral nervous system. Its central nervous system is made up of two ganglia above the mouth, one on each side, that are linked to a nerve that runs along its length and connects motor neurons and great sensory cells in each segment.

A large number of chemoreceptors congregate near the animal's mouth. Each segment's transverse direction and longitudinal muscles allow the worm to move.

Comparable muscle groups line the intestine, and their actions propel food forward towards the anus of the worm. Earthworms species are full hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive body parts.

These worms have a full complete absence of a true skeleton as invertebrates but preserve their shape with fluid-filled coelom compartments that function as a hydrostatic skeleton.

The largest Oligochaeta members are commonly referred to as 'earthworms'. They were in the order of Opisthopora in classical classification systems because the male cavities opened posterior to the female pores, despite the fact that the internal male segments end are anterior to the female.

In general, the number of segments found within a species is consistent across specimens, and they are born with the number of body components they will have throughout their life.

An adult earthworm species begins to develop a clitellum, a belt-shaped lobular swelling that encompasses numerous segments near the animal's head. This is a reproductive system component that generates egg capsules.

The posterior is still most frequently a cylindrical shape, as per the remainder of the body, but it can also be quadrangular, octagon-shaped, trapezoidal, or squashed, depending on the variety. The end segment of a worm's body is known as the periproct, and it contains the earthworm's anus; a nearly vertical slit.

After reading all about earthworm eggs and how to save them, be sure to check out our answers to do rabbits lay eggs and our bearded dragon eggs facts, here on Kidadl.

Do earthworms lay eggs?

Worms do not lay eggs; instead, they produce cocoons containing multiple fertilized eggs. Earthworms species are hermaphroditic, which means they have both male and female reproductive organs. Worms copulate by aligning themselves head-to-head and exchanging genetic material from the clitellum, a coagulated glandular ring at the apical portion of adults.

The clitellum generates a thick mucus circle after copulation, which stiffens and starts to form the cocoon. As mating commences, the cocoon tumbles over the worm's head, and the worm's own embryo is stored into the formulating cocoon.

It then clinches at both ends, resulting in a small pearl-like cocoon.

For as much as the donated genetic material surplus lasts, each worm will then continue to create small cocoons. In the instance of red earthworm eggs, each cocoon usually produces 2-20 baby worms that hatch out every two to six weeks under ideal conditions.

The length of time it takes for a cocoon to incubate is determined by temperature, moisture levels, demography, spring weather, and dirt soil quality. If the spring weather conditions are unfavorable, cocoons can remain vacant for months or years.

Eggs are laid by earthworms. They lay eggs somewhere within cocoons, which are then flung off the earthworm's head after copulation between two independent earthworms. Earthworms have both male and female states and sex organ systems, meaning that they are hermaphroditic and that there aren't distinctly female and male individuals.

What do earthworm eggs look like?

Worms procreate in an intriguing way that also contributes to their long-term survival. Earthworms lay their egg pods in the land, usually close to a food source.

The ability of these egg capsules to survive brutal environments that would kill adult earthworms is fascinating. Earthworm egg capsules can withstand freezing temperatures and dry conditions for extended periods of time. The egg capsules will wait for better or improved conditions before hatching. Adult worms create approximately two to four egg capsules every month when in ideal conditions.

How To Identify Earthworm Eggs

Earthworms lay their eggs inside amber-colored cocoons produced by their bodies. Premature eggs that break free from their protective cocoons shrivel and die. Within the cocoon, the eggs hatch, and the cocoon itself becomes a free barrier protection for the newborn worms.

Each cocoon usually hatches somewhere around 2-20 baby earthworms after about three weeks. Some earthworm species can produce up to 80 cocoons in weeks, although this can take months, or even up to a year.

Earthworms can grow and live for up to eight years, but the majority are eaten or killed before they reach that age. An earthworm's average life span is less than a year.

You can examine a suspected earthworm cocoon with a magnifying glass. If you search for earthworm eggs in your garden or compost heap, you are likely to find some available to look at in closer detail.

Ensure no sunlight enters the magnifying glass and don't hold the magnifying glass over the cocoon for an extended period of time as this could destroy the cocoon or result in the death of the newborn earthworms inside.

Instead, examine the cocoons through the magnifying glass and alter the magnification so that the eggs appear greatly amplified.

Determine the approximate size of the suspicious cocoon. You'll know if what you have found are earthworm cocoons as they are typically 1 cm long in size.

Determine the color of the questionable cocoon. When fresh, earthworm cocoons are translucent, but after a few hours, they turn orange, and their quality declines.

Look at the suspected cocoon's structure. Earthworm cocoons are commonly shaped like limes, but some are teardrop-shaped. Worms are hermaphrodites, which means they must copulate before laying eggs.

If you have never seen a worm 'blowing' an egg capsule, it somewhat looks like somebody trying to blow a bubble out of their mouth. Three to seven worms can hatch from each egg capsule available. When the worm forms egg capsules and they are first laid, they are bright golden yellow and gradually turn brownish red before hatching.

Under ideal conditions and at temperatures around 80 degrees, Eisenia fetida egg capsules will hatch in about 21 days. Warmer temperatures cause the eggs to grow and incubate quicker than colder temperatures, which adult worms like.

How long do earthworm eggs take to hatch?

The life cycle of this worm, like several others, begins with an egg, with other stages coming later. A young earthworm develops within the egg until it is ready to hatch.

The egg is entombed in a cocoon, which is a type of egg casing. The number of eggs inside a cocoon can vary among species and tends to range from 1 - 20 for earthworm species in the later Lumbricidae family.

Cocoons are sort of a rounded lemon shape, but the exact shape and look vary by species. The time it takes for them to hatch is also highly variable, and it varies not only by species but also by climate factors.

Some organisms' cocoons may hatch faster in warmer temperatures than in cooler temperatures, while others may 'wait out' unpleasant drought conditions inside the land at the cocoon stage.

As a result, the precise time when the earthworms may spawn and the appropriate duration of incubation is all determined by dirt soil and environmental factors. You might see earthworm eggs hatching or earthworm eggs in the soil, especially if you take the time to search for them.

Hatchlings resemble mini-earthworms, only smaller and paler.

It's easy to misunderstand these with pot worms, which are comparatively tiny fragmented worms associated with earthworms. The hatchlings may develop the same color scheme and shape as an adult earthworm as it continues to feed and grow.

How many earthworms are in a cocoon?

When some other worms and earthworms mate, their heads juncture in different directions, and received sperm is transferred and stored in sacs from one worm to the next. The earthworms then form cocoons on their clitellum.

To produce eggs and receive sperm, eggs are accumulated in the cocoon as the worm backs out of the relatively narrow cocoons. After the worms leave, the cocoon closes, and fertilization occurs.

The cocoons are yellow and much smaller than a grain of rice. Evey cocoon can house between one and five worms.

If the conditions for hatching are not favorable, such as dryness, cocoons may remain dormant for months or years before hatching as they wait until the conditions are more favorable. The five or more worms that hatch from the cocoon are white in color.

The newborn worms are very tiny, and their color is so white that you can practically see right through them. Since their inner organs have not completely formed yet, they appear to have a see-through body.

They mature at six weeks old and are ready to lay eggs of their own by this time. Each worm will grow and can live to eight years. The parent earthworm leaves the cocoon and the newborn hatchlings are left to fend for themselves and get their own food.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for earthworm eggs, then why not take a look at frog eggs or Earthworm Facts.