How many species of earthworm are there?
Worldwide there are approximately 3000 species of earthworm of which 28 species (not including introduced species) are found in the UK. Each species can be ascribed to one of three major groupings. The first group (litter dwellers) encompasses those species that inhabit the surface organic layers of the soil and may also occur within compost heaps. These include common species such as Eisenia fetida (the brandling or tiger worm) and Eisenia veneta (another striped worm). Earthworms which fall within the other two ecological groups (deep burrowers and shallow workers) do not require such a high level of organic matter and thrive within mineral soils. However their life cycle, although passing through the same 3 stages (…adult – cocoon – hatchling…), is less prolific than that of litter dwelling worms. Deep burrowing species such as Lumbricus terrestris (the lob worm) and Aporrectodea longa (the black-headed worm) usually require a deep, mature soil with a supply of surface organic m
