What are the benefits of earthworms? How do they multiply?

The role of earthworms in the soil microflora is great. They are the main processors of organic substances in the soil, enrich it with humus and other elements.

Being in the ground, worms loosen it, allowing air to flow to the roots of plants, thereby improving their growth and fruiting. In this case, worms do not pose any danger to the environment.

What type of earthworms are affected?

The structure of the body of a worm is similar to a large number of rings strung on an elastic band. And due to this appearance they are referred to a ringed type. On the sides of the body these creatures have small setae, with which they move. However, in comparison with other types of worms , they have few worms , so their subclass is called small-wool.

Near the head part of the body of the worm is thickened and as if girdled, therefore they belong to the class of girdle. The belt is part of their reproductive system.

But where do the earthworms come from ? How do they multiply? They are born with the help of eggs, laid in the ground in a special cocoon, which has an oval shape, ranging in diameter from 2 to 7 mm.

The process of fertilization

Let's take a closer look at the questions: how are earthworms born, how do they multiply?

First of all, it is necessary to know that earthworms are hermaphrodites, they have seminal fluid with spermatozoa, and eggs are ripening.

When the worm appears the above-mentioned belt, it means that it can already reproduce. In this way, fully formed earthworms are identified. How they multiply, you can observe by finding on the ground their stitched pair.

The fact is that at the time of puberty, the animal has all the masculine signs. And first two individuals converge and touch each other's ends, close to the head part, and their bodies are literally glued together with the help of a prominent sticky liquid. At this time, the belts of the worms are opposite each other, and the seminal fluid is exchanged, after which the partners spread.

The next stage of reproduction begins, which passes all earthworms. How do they multiply, if at first only males are in front of us? It turns out that after the exchange of spermatozoa in the individual, female symptoms also appear: the ovaries mature and eggs appear. The clutch starts moving towards the head end of the body. The first to fall into their own eggs. With the continuation of the clutch movement at the level of the 10th segment, the seminal fluid fertilizes the oocyte. At the last stage of reproduction, the clutch falls from the body of the worm through the head end and forms a cocoon, which looks like a lemon.

The larval stage in earthworms is absent. The shell of the cocoon protects the embryos from harmful microorganisms, while well passes the water and salts necessary for the life of the future offspring. When fully ripened, the activity of the young increases, and they leave the cocoon themselves. Small worms become full-grown adult earthworms in a short time.

Earthworms

How the described creatures multiply can be understood by highlighting the main stages present in this process. Repeat them one more time:

1. Two worms are "glued" to their ends with the help of a liquid extracted from the clutch.
2. There is an exchange of seminal fluid.
3. After "putting up" each worm begins to move on the body of the coupling, heading to the head end of the body.
4. When the clutch moves, eggs enter it.
5. Seed fluid with spermatozoa joins the eggs.
6. Fertility is coming.
7. The clutch slips completely off the body of the worm.
8. A cocoon is formed.

Offspring

So, in the case described, there is cross-fertilization, and how the earthworm multiplies, based on this, it is not difficult to understand. In the cocoon, laid by the earthworm, there are from two to twenty eggs. They develop for about 20 days, after which from them appear tiny, thin as a string of cubs. Their length does not exceed 6 mm. But they grow quickly and after 12 weeks become sexually mature and able to continue the cycle of reproduction.

By the way, live worms up to 15 years old and can grow in length by several dozen centimeters.

Favorable environment for breeding worms

Earthworms are present all over the planet, only strong colds prevent their appearance in the soil. They multiply successfully in a medium of neutral acidity and soil moisture of about 60%.

As the earthworm multiplies, it was discussed above, but in addition, these creatures have another property - they are prone to regeneration. So, if the earthworm is cut in half, then the half that has the head part, can restore its tail, and the second half most often dies. By the way, with the threat of extinction, worms can reproduce without fertilization.

How fast do earthworms multiply? This happens during the warm season. This is usually the period from spring to autumn in temperate climates. It stops breeding only in cold weather, as worms do not eat and go deep into the ground, where they winter.