Classification and Species of Earthworms:

Earthworms, leeches and marine worms form the phylum Annelida group within the classification of animal under invertebrate.

There are over 1000 species of earthworm, Charles Darwin has been fascinated with the study of earthworm his whole life. There are a few common types of earthworms such as native night crawler ( Lumbricus terrestris), African night crawler, European night crawler, garden worm or field worm, diplocardia earthworm, manure worm or red wriggler (Helodrilus Foetidus), red worm (Lumbricus rubellus), green worm. Most commercial production uses manure worm and red worm due to the fact that these two species are the most prolific (breeds faster).

The largest earthworm in the United States is the native night crawlers ( Lumbricus terrestris) which are commonly found from fields and lawns at night in the northern states using a flashlight. They are slow reproducer and does not survive well in shipping, although they are also raised for sporting fish baits, they are not produced in large scale. Other large species such as European night crawler and African night crawler are commercially produced at a higher cost and price.

The common field worms (helodrilus caliginosus) are probably the next in size, not a good reproducer and are found in the southern states particularly in low fertility fields.

The green worm (helodrilus chloroticus) is a greenish colored, an extremely inactive, short and stout worm. It is also not a good commercial production candidate.

The manure worm (helodrilus foetidus) or red wriggler, it’s also called bandling due to its traverse rings of maroon and yellow colored alternating bands around the entire length of its body. It is often found in manure hips and refuse pile. This active and squeamish worn is not the largest worm species but because of its high reproduction rate of from 100 to 1000 offspring per year, it is one of the favorite commercial production species.

The red worm (lumbricus rubellus) is a deep maroon colored worm that does not have the yellow strips. It is also attracted to manure pit or refuse pile and is also a favorite commercial production species because of its high reproduction rate.

The manure worm and red worm are consistently adaptable to commercial production conditions and are domesticated earthworms which compared to its native counter part is a bit larger in size.