The role of earthworms in soil microflora is great. They are the main processors of organic matter in the soil, enrich it with humus and other elements.
Being in the ground, the worms loosen it, which allows air to flow to the roots of plants, thereby improving their growth and fruiting. At the same time, the worms do not pose any danger to the environment.
What type are earthworms
The body structure of a worm looks like a large number of rings strung on an elastic band. And thanks to this appearance they are classified as ringed. On the sides of the body, these creatures have small bristles with which they move. However, compared to other types of worms, earthworms have few of them, so their subclass is called low-bristle.
Near the head part of the body of the worm is thickened and as if girded, so they belong to the class of girdle. The girdle is part of their reproductive system.
But where do earthworms come from? How do they reproduce? They are born with the help of eggs laid in the ground ina special cocoon, having an oval shape, ranging in diameter from 2 to 7 mm.
Fertilization process
Let's take a closer look at the questions: how are earthworms born, how do they reproduce?
First of all, you need to know that earthworms are hermaphrodites, they have seminal fluid with spermatozoa, and eggs mature.
When the worm has the belt mentioned above, it means that it can already reproduce. In this way, fully formed earthworms are determined. How they reproduce can be observed by finding their pair stuck together on the ground.
The fact is that at the time of puberty, the animal has all the male characteristics. And at first, two individuals come together and touch the ends closest to the head, and their bodies are literally glued together with the help of a sticky liquid released. At this time, the belts of the worms are located opposite each other, and the seminal fluid is exchanged, after which the partners crawl away.
The next stage of reproduction begins, which all earthworms go through. How do they reproduce if at first we have only males? It turns out that after the exchange of spermatozoa, female signs also appear in the individual: the ovaries ripen and eggs appear. The clutch begins to move towards the head end of the body. The first to enter her own eggs. With the continuation of the movement of the clutch at the level of the 10th segment, the seminal fluid fertilizes the egg. At the last stage of reproduction, the clutch falls offthe body of the worm through the head end and forms a cocoon, similar in appearance to a lemon.
There is no larval stage in earthworms. The shell of the cocoon protects the embryos from harmful microorganisms, and at the same time passes water and s alts well, which are necessary for the life of future offspring. With full maturation, the activity of the cubs increases, and they emerge from the cocoon on their own. Small worms after a short period of time become full-fledged adult earthworms.
Earthworms
How the described creatures multiply can be understood by highlighting the main stages present in this process. Let's repeat them again:
- Two worms are "glued" by the head ends with the help of fluid released from the clutch.
- Semen exchange occurs.
- After "unsticking", each worm's sleeve begins to move along the body, heading towards the head end of the body.
- Eggs enter the clutch when it moves.
- Seminal fluid with sperm joins the eggs.
- Fertilization begins.
- The clutch slides completely off the body of the worm.
- A cocoon is forming.
Offspring
So, in the described case, there is cross-fertilization, and it is not difficult to understand how the earthworm reproduces, based on this. In a cocoon laid by an earthworm, there are from two to twenty eggs. They develop for about 20 days, after which tiny, thread-thin cubs are born from them. Their length does not exceed 6 mm. But growthey 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.
Good environment for worm breeding
Earthworms are present all over the planet, only extreme cold prevents them from appearing in the soil. They reproduce successfully in an environment of neutral acidity and soil moisture of about 60%.
How the earthworm reproduces was 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 reproduce? This occurs during the entire warm season. This is usually the period from spring to autumn in temperate areas. Reproduction stops only in cold weather, because the worms do not feed and go deep into the ground, where they hibernate.
