Red forest earthworm
| Red forest earthworm | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The red forest earthworm ( Lumbricus rubellus ) is found in soils rich in humus |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Lumbricus rubellus | ||||||||||||
| Hoffmeister , 1843 |
The red forest earthworm ( Lumbricus rubellus , syn .: Allolobophora relictus [Southern, 1909]), also red worm or red leaf eater , is a close relative of the common earthworm - the dewworm ( Lumbricus terrestris ) - and is often found under fallen leaves in old tree stumps ( Dead wood ) and in soils rich in humus.
The red forest earthworm is 60 to 150 mm long, 4 to 6 mm wide and has about 100 segments. The clitellum extends from the 26th to the 32nd segment. The color is red-brown, red to red-violet, becoming paler towards the end of the body. The original homeland is Europe, but the animal was taken all over the world by humans (for example through potting soil or as bait worms).
Way of life
Just like the compost worm ( Eisenia fetida ), the red forest earthworm is able to digest organic material of plant origin that is still relatively undecomposed and is therefore found particularly close to the surface under fallen leaves or other waste. In contrast to the compost worm, it can build tunnels in the ground and penetrate deeper layers. It is often found in the root area ( rhizosphere ) of plants. The preferred pH is in the range from 3.0 to 7.7. The red forest earthworm is relatively frost tolerant. Like other Lumbricus species , L. rubellus has a high calcium requirement and therefore prefers lime-rich soils or waste materials.
Dissemination and use
The red forest earthworm was introduced to Canada, the United States, Chile and Australia, among others. In the previously earthworm-free areas of North America, the worm changes the composition of the earth and thus triggers a cascade of effects. These changes also change the microbiological composition of the soil, affect invertebrates, vertebrates and the development of seedlings. This changes entire plant communities and endangers rare plants. The red forest earthworm has little or no economic importance there. However, it is used as a bait worm by anglers, especially in North America. Unused worms are usually dumped on the ground and can thus spread over large areas. This is why North America has particularly high populations near lakes.
As a soil improver, the red forest earthworm contributes to the fertility of agricultural land. L. rubellus is also considered to be very useful as a 'compost worm', but Eisenia fetida is preferred in the trade . In Indonesia and China, L. rubellus is bred alongside other types of worms and processed into protein powders and sold as a dietary supplement or medicine. Because of the high content of amino acids , made from the proteins it contains, the worm is also suitable for the production of high-quality animal and fish feed.
Web links
- Overview of common native species (University of Münster)
- Lifestyle and Distribution in Global Invasive Species Database
- Earthworms as food, information from the University of Münster
Individual evidence
- ^ Paul Brohmer: Fauna von Deutschland , Quelle & Meyer, Heidelberg 1977, 13th edition p. 93, ISBN 3-494-00043-3
- ↑ Aichele, Schwegler, Zahradnik, Cihar: Goldener Kosmos-Tier- und Pflanzenführer , Franckh 1987,2. Ed. Pp. 450–451, ISBN 3-440-05453-5
- ↑ Global invasive species database, Lumbricus rubellus , accessed January 10, 2020
- ↑ David Langor, Jon Sweeney (Eds.), Ecological Impacts of Non-Native Invertebrates and Fungi on Terrestrial , 2009, p. 74, ISBN 978-1-4020-9680-8
- ↑ http://www.wormcomposting.ca/worms/red-worms-eisenia-fetida/
- ↑ http://eprints.undip.ac.id/17027/1/34%284%292009p253-257.pdf