Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 20.1
Comparison of Some Aspects of the Biology of the Earthworm Vermicomposting Species
Eisenia
fetida
Eisenia
andrei
Dendrobaena
rubida
Dendrobaena
veneta
Lumbricus
rubellus
Drawida
nepalensis
Eudrilus
eugeniae
Perionyx
excavatus
Color
Brown and buff
bands
Red
Reddish purple
Reddish and purple
bands
Reddish brown
?
Reddish brown
Reddish brown
Size of adult worms
4 to 8 mm
Z
50 to
4 to 8
50 to
100 mm
Z
3 to 4
35 to
60 mm
Z
5 to 7
50 to
80 mm
Z
4
70 to
150 mm
Z
?
5 to 7
80 to
190 mm
Z
4 to 5
Z
45 to
100 mm
70 mm
Mean weight of
adults
0.55 g
0.55 g
0.25 g
0.92 g
0.80 g
0.82 g
2.7Ï3.5 g
0.5Ï0.6 g
Time to maturity
(days)
28Ï30
21Ï28
54
65
74Ï91
34Ï42
40Ï49
28Ï42
Number of cocoons
day
0.35Ï0.5
0.35Ï0.5
0.20
0.28
0.07Ï0.25
0.15
0.42Ï0.51
1.2Ï2.7
−
1
Mean size of cocoons
4.85
Z
2.82 mm
4.86
Z
2.64 mm
3.19
Z
1.97 mm
3.14
Z
1.93 mm
3.50
Z
2.46 mm
?
?
?
Incubation time
(days)
18Ï26
18Ï26
15Ï40
42.1
35Ï40
24
12Ï16
18
Hatching viability
(%)
73Ï80
72
85
20
60Ï70
75Ï81
75Ï84
90
Number of worms
cocoon
2.5Ï3.8
2.5Ï3.8
1.67
1.10
1
1.93
2Ï2.7
1Ï1.1
-1