Great Lakes Worm Watch

Earthworms by Ecological Group

A Guide to Earthworms Youll Find in The Great Lakes Region

Ther e are many speci es of exoti c earthwor ms i n t he Great Lakes regi on. They can be di vi ded i nt o
three broad groups to make i denti fi cati on easi er:









Epi gei c speci es l i ve i n t he sur f ace l i tt er above the mi ner al soi l or the t op i nch (2. 5 cm) or so of soi l
and make no per manent burr ows. They f eed on sur f ace l i tt er, di gesti ng i t and t he f ungi and
mi croorgani sms found there. They ar e reddi sh brown i n col or and smal l i n si ze, usual l y l ess than 7. 5
cm l ong (3 i nches) when mat ure. (scal e above i n cm). Remember , base si ze esti mates on adul ts
onl y!











Endogei c speci es make extensi ve branchi ng burrow systems i n t he t op 50 cm (20 i nches) of t he soi l .
They feed by i ngesti ng l arge amounts of soi l and di gest the soi l organi c matter and f ungi and
mi croorgani sms found there. They ar e easi l y separ ated f rom epi gei c and aneci c speci es by thei r
col or: endogei cs have no red- brown ski n pi gmentati on, but r ather are l i ght grey, someti mes wi th an
al bi no pi nk head. Be caref ul ! I f thei r gut i s ful l of dar k soi l they may l ook dar k at fi r st gl ance, but a
cl oser exami nat i on wi l l r eveal that the ski n has no col or. Adul ts can r ange i n si ze fr om j ust over 3
cm to 12. 5 cm l ong (1-5 i nches). (scal e i n cm)











Aneci c speci es make vert i cal burr ows up to 2 meters (6 f eet) deep i n the soi l , but t hey f eed on fresh
sur face l i tter. The common ni ght cr awl er i s an exampl e of an aneci c speci es. They are r eddi sh brown
i n col or and l arger than ei ther of t he ot her t wo groups. Adul ts are usual l y 12. 5 20 cm l ong (5 to 8
i nches). (scal e i n cm)


D. octeadra Lumbri cus rubel l us



Octol asi on t yrteum



Lumbri cus ter rest ri s