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, which allows air to flow to the roots of plants, which improves their growth and fruiting. In this case, the worms do not pose any danger to the environment.
What type are earthworms
The body structure of the worm looks like a large number of rings strung on an elastic band. And thanks to this appearance, they are classified as ring-shaped. On the sides of the body, these creatures have small bristles with which they move. However, in comparison with other types of earthworms , earthworms have few of them, therefore, their subclass is called low-bristle.
Near the head, the body part of the worm is thickened and seems to be belted, therefore they belong to the class of girdle. The girdle is part of their reproductive system.
But where do earthworms come from ? How do they breed? They are born with the help of eggs laid in the ground in a special cocoon, which has an oval shape, comprising in diameter from 2 to 7 mm.
Fertilization process
Let's take a closer look at the questions: how earthworms are born, how do they multiply?
First of all, you need to know that earthworms are hermaphrodites, they also have seminal fluid with sperm, and egg maturation occurs.
When the worm appears above the belt, it means that it can already multiply. In this way, fully formed earthworms are determined. How they reproduce can be observed by discovering their stuck together pair on the ground.
The fact is that at the time of puberty, the animal has all the male signs. And first, the two individuals converge together and come in contact with the ends closest to the head, and their bodies are literally glued together with the help of a sticky fluid. At this time, the belts of the worms are located opposite each other, and the seminal fluid is exchanged, after which the partners creep out.
The next breeding stage begins, which all earthworms go through. How do they breed if at first only males are in front of us? It turns out that after the exchange of spermatozoa, the individual also displays female signs: the ovaries mature and the eggs appear. The clutch begins to move towards the head end of the body. The first to get into her own eggs. With continued clutch movement at level 10 of the segment, seminal fluid fertilizes the egg. At the last stage of reproduction, the clutch falls from the body of the worm through the head end and forms a cocoon that looks like a lemon.
The larval stage in earthworms is absent. The cocoon shell protects the embryos from harmful microorganisms, while it passes water and salts well, which are necessary for the life of the future offspring. With full maturity, the activity of the cubs increases, and they leave the cocoon on their own. Small worms after a short period of time become full-grown adult earthworms.
Earthworms
How the described creatures reproduce can be understood by highlighting the main stages present in this process. Repeat them again:
- Two worms “stick together” with their head ends using the fluid secreted from the coupling.
- Semen fluid is exchanged.
- After “sticking”, the worm begins to move along the body of each worm, heading towards the head end of the body.
- When the clutch moves, eggs get into it.
- Semen with sperm is attached to the eggs.
- Fertilization is coming.
- The clutch slides completely from the body of the worm.
- A cocoon is formed.
Progeny
So, in the described case, there is cross-fertilization, and how the earthworm multiplies, on the basis of this, it is not difficult to understand. In a cocoon laid by an earthworm, there are from two to twenty eggs. They develop for about 20 days, after which tiny tiny, thread-like cubs are born. Their length does not exceed 6 mm. But they grow quickly and after 12 weeks become sexually mature and able to continue the breeding cycle.
By the way, worms live up to 15 years and can grow in length by several tens of centimeters.
Favorable worm breeding environment
Earthworms are present all over the planet, only severe colds prevent their appearance in the soil. They breed successfully in an environment of neutral acidity and soil moisture of about 60%.
How the earthworm propagates has been discussed above, but in addition, these creatures have one more property - they are prone to regeneration. So, if the earthworm is cut in half, then the half that has the head part will be able to restore its tail, and the second half most often dies. By the way, with the threat of extermination, worms are able to reproduce without fertilization.
How fast do earthworms breed? This happens during the entire warm season. Usually this is the period from spring to autumn in areas with a temperate climate. Reproduction stops only in the cold season, because the worms do not feed and go deep into the ground, where they winter.