Common Earthworm
Lumbricus terrestris
Common earthworms live in permanent vertical burrows in moist temperate soils, emerging mostly at night or after rain. They feed by pulling leaves and dead plant matter into the soil, grinding organic material and microbes in the gut. Their tunnelling aerates and mixes soil, and the surface casts they leave are a notable sign of their activity. Although soft-bodied, they can anchor themselves with tiny bristles and retreat quickly underground when disturbed.
- Type
- Burrow
- Conservation status
- NE