Activity: Study of life cycle of Eisenia fetida

The following are the main stages of the life cycle of Eisenia fetida

Cocoon Stage

The life of a red wiggler starts at the cocoon stage, also called the egg stage.
This stage lasts on an average for two weeks, which is the length of the
incubation period, the period in which the baby worms will develop. At the
beginning of the incubation period, the cocoons have a golden yellow colour
and gradually turn to a deep amber, maroon-like colour as time passes. Each
cocoon contains around 4 to 6 baby worms and is lemon-like shaped with the
size of a grape seed. At the end of the incubation period, when the temperature
is between 18 to 30°C, the cocoon will hatch and baby worms will enter the
juvenile stage. In a vermicomposting system, the cocoon will be near the
surface of the bedding. Their resiliency and durability allow them to withstand
moisture, freezing temperature and last up to a year.

Juvenile Stage

After hatching, the red wigglers enter the juvenile stage, the second stage of
their lives. At that point, worms are still babies and look like 1/2 inch (1.2 cm)
long transparent threads no bigger than a few human hairs put together and have
no reproductive organs. Although they are small, they are already little eating
"machines" and contribute to vermicomposting systems. After 40 to 60 days, the
juvenile stage ends. By that time, baby worms are grown worms with darkened
colour and clear segments. The principal change is the development of the
clitellum, their reproductive organ. It confirms their entrance into the mature
stage.

Mature Stage / Adulthood

With their clitellum developed, worms have entered the mature stage. An adult
worm can eat half its body weight every day and mostly enjoy eating fruits,
vegetables, leaf litter, and shredded paper and cardboard. These characteristics
make them the ultimate partner in recycling organic materials. In optimal
condition, such as in a vermicomposting bin, an adult worm can live up to 5
years and are mainly active during warm seasons. With a steady supply of food
and temperatures between 18 to 30°C, the clitellum of adult worms will turn
orange, reflecting the optimal conditions to reproduce and their sexual
readiness. These conditions kick off the last stage of a red wiggler, the mating
stage.

Mating Stage

Red wigglers are hermaphrodites which mean that they have both male and
female organs. Despite this characteristic, two worms still need to join their
clitellum to exchange genetic material and fertilize their eggs. The fertilization
happens after the separation of the two worms and is followed by the clitellum
detaching itself from the worm to form a sealed cocoon. In optimal conditions, a
worm population can double every 90 days. This is possible because each
sexually active worm can produce up to two cocoons a week. The population
will stop growing when all the space available is "colonized."