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We are often say how worthful nightcrawler are for our gardens with their grime - enrich abilities — but are they really beneficial ? It turn out , what ’s good for the garden is harming our forests .
While the benefit of earthworms is not entirely agarden myth , this is an example where location really matter .
Earthworms in the Garden
In North America , gardeners rely on dew worm includingLumbricus terrestris(the uncouth red worm ) to aerate our soil , and convince constituent thing into nutrients , while improving soil structure and make-up .
There ’s even some evidence that worms might be good in reducing carbon emissions .
But , the vulgar earthworm is non - native , and , while well - conform in cultivated garden , it is not so welcome in woods .
This louse is widely distributed around the globe and has several common names admit ‘ the plebeian earthworm ’ , ‘ lob worm ’ , ‘ nightwalker ’ , ‘ dew worm ’ , or ‘ granddaddy wiggler ’ .
We have 19 key earthworm specie here in Ontario and all of them start in other part of the world .
get ’s find out where they help and why we need to keep them out of natural region .
Contents
Types of Worms
Have you figure indoor insect boxes or compost bins where people keep worms to convert constitutional subject into fertilizer ?
That ’s vermicomposting ( vermisis Romance forworm ) .
The insect used for vermicomposting are dissimilar species than the common earthworm .
Composting earthworms include red wigglers ( Eisenia fetida ) and red tigers ( Eisenia andrei ) .
Yes , you may purchase lively red fishing worm on Amazon here !
Composting wormsreside on the soil surface in organic matter , have fantabulous appetites , reproduce speedily , and their outdoor population seem to be restrict or controlled by rough conditions conditions .
The common earthwormburrows deep in the dirt , and , with that raw protection has finagle to twist its way through the continent .
All of these worms are non - aboriginal to North America .
Worms at Work | Amazon
Related : How to Make Worm Tower for In - Ground Composting
Location Matters
Whether or not earthworms are “ dear for the soil ” depends on where they are located .
Earthworms native to North America were wiped out in the Methedrine age just about 15,000 years ago .
The common earthworm ( Lumbricus terrestris ) we have today originated in Europe and was introduced with imported works and soil a few hundred old age ago .
Scientists canvass timber and woodland conservationists are ambivalent about the common fishing worm .
While the worms have not been problematic in cultivated garden , they can negatively bear on biography on the wood floor and therefore affect the woods as a whole .
As the louse eat , nutrients are contain from leafy priming covers and moved deeper into the soil , both altering soil bodily structure and surcharge new seedling of necessary sustenance . This in turn restricts new growth .
Deeper roots can get to the nutrients but young plants are result depleted , limiting new growth . We bank on forests regenerate themselves so this is a serious setback .
Related : Invasive Flatworms are necessitate over theUnited KingdomandFrance
Preventing Earthworm Damage
We can not control or take exist vulgar earthworms from forests , but we can do a few things to help limit further spread .
Never dump worms or soil in natural expanse .
Never dump remnant decoy worms after fishing .
It is hop that ( over many year ) our forests can adapt to the introduction of nightcrawler , but they will be unlike and perhaps less prolific .
So next meter you get word of someone thinking it ’s okay to put remnant soil in nation ditch or forest , give them the invading insect talk !
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~Melissathe Empress of Dirt ♛
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