How2Day: Redworms for Composting

Redworms eat fruit waste like melons. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Unlike earthworms, which inhabit the soil itself, redworms prefer to live in the layers of organic waste that lay across the surface of the soil, like dead leaves and manure piles. They consume the waste they inhabit and produce worm castings, dirtlike chunks of organic matter that work well when used as compost and fertilizer. Most worm composters typically opt to put their redworms in a wooden or plastic bin on a bed of damp, shredded newspaper, feeding them mild fruit and vegetable scraps, like banana peelings and discarded garden produce, on a weekly basis.

Often called by its scientific name of Eisenia fetida, this commonly used composting worm answers to a variety of other names, including manure worm, red wiggler and brandling worm. According to Cathy Cromell, author of the 2010 book "Composting for Dummies," E. fetida is used for worm composting purposes more than any other species of redworm. This worm is equipped with an intense appetite for organic matter and is typically capable of consuming up to half its weight in food daily. The brandling worm generally grows to a length of about 2 inches and possesses a distinctive striping pattern of alternating dark red and yellow bands. It typically works most efficiently when its bin is between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

A lesser-known cousin of E. fetida, Eisenia Andrei is often called the tiger worm. This worm is similar in size and appearance to the manure worm, and many worm composting centers sell the two redworm species interchangeably. If you examine the two species side by side, the tiger worm generally reveals a slightly darker appearance, and its stripes typically aren't as obvious as those of the manure worm. Like other redworm species, the tiger worm distinguishes itself from other types of worms with rapid wiggling movements when exposed to sunlight.

As first glance, Lumbricus rubellus seems to mirror the yellow and maroon appearance of E. fetida, but closer inspection shows that this worm lacks the distinctive striping of the manure worm. Also called the angle worm, L. rubellus typically grows a bit longer than the manure worm, often to a length of 3 inches. The angle worm maintains a good appetite in lower temperatures, often down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Loren Nancarrow, coauthor of "The Worm Book," points out that L. rubellus generally tends to dig deeper into the soil than other redworms, which can improve soil aeration, especially if you plan to place your worm bin directly on the ground. Check with your local cooperative extension office before purchasing this worm for composting, as this redworm species may contribute to the decline of native plant species in certain parts of the United States, says Cromell.

How2Day