tiger worms.
Tiger worms, also known as swirl worms or simply red worms, are a type of compostable worm. These worms, commonly identified by the scientific name Eisenia fetida, are usually reddish-brown in color and often appear striped because their bodies are segmented. Tiger worms do not normally have eyes or ears, but they can usually detect heat, light, and movement in the soil around them. These worms don’t have teeth, but they use a combination of digestive enzymes and small waste particles inside their bodies to break down and digest their food. Tiger worms can suck in water and air directly through their skin, and are usually hermaphroditic, so they can mate and reproduce without the benefit of a partner.
The species of worm commonly known as the tiger worm usually lives on the surface of the soil, or no lower than about 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) below the surface. Tiger worms generally do best in temperatures between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit (20 and 25 degrees Celsius). They generally cannot survive temperatures above 32.2 Celsius (90° Fahrenheit). Tiger worms generally need a lot of soil moisture and are said to prefer soil that contains 43 to 90 percent water. The ideal soil pH for this species of worm is thought to be between five and nine on the Blakemore pH scale.
These worms reproduce by depositing sperm and eggs in a cocoon. Their bodies secrete a sticky substance that hardens to form this cocoon. Tiger worms are generally hermaphroditic, which means that each individual has the ability to create sperm and eggs. As a result, they can normally fertilize their own eggs, without the need for a sexual partner. The eggs usually take about two months to hatch, and the young worms reach sexual maturity in an average of two months to ten weeks.
This species of compostable worm is often farmed and sold to gardeners. Worm farmers often sell tiger worms in 1-kilogram (2.2-pound) increments. These worms are thought to lay eggs every two weeks for up to a year, with each cocoon capable of hatching up to 20 new worms. Worm breeders generally estimate that these worms will reproduce rapidly in a suitable garden setting and can often double their population in about 60 to 90 days.