What Do Earthworms Eat

It was not before I did some research for this article that I found out that earthworms are much more than just those slimy wrinkly worms that scared the hell out of me!!! I remember as a kid whenever I found them in my garden, I would run inside leaving all my toys. Later, we found out a way to kill them is by putting a pinch of salt over them. Now I realize that wasn't a nice thing to do considering the benefits of earthworms in the soil!!! Anyway, that was when I was a little kid, but now after going through some interesting earthworm facts, and learning about them, (including what do earthworms eat), I am sure that I don't want to kill them anymore. In fact, I want to keep them as pets!!! Do you want to know why? Read on further and learn how wonderful these creatures are, and how do they survive.

Where Do Earthworms Live?

Before we discuss on what earthworms eat, don't you think you should know where do they live, because they will live only where they get food, right? So let me first tell you where they live, and the answer is, everywhere there is soil!!! That's right, a good fertile soil with an ample amount of organic matter is perfect for the earthworms habitat. They settle and multiply in places which can supply them ample amount of organic decay like dry leaves, fungi, bacteria, plant remains and a good amount of moist and dampen soil.

What Does an Earthworm Eat?

As mentioned earlier, they live in places which are rich in organic matter and plant decays, so that is what they eat and survive on! What seems like dirt of the garden to us humans, is actually a delicacy for the earthworms. Earthworms don't have teeth and therefore they tend to swallow the organic dirt of the garden while they are busy burrowing and extracting the nutrients from the soil. They also eat the fungi, bacteria, septic tank sludge and even the waste materials of cows and horses! The last on the menu may seem disgusting to us, but for earthworms, it is the most nutritious food that they can get. This is because the plants are already digested for the earthworms to easily swallow.

How Do Earthworms Help the Soil?

Did you know that many people do earthworm farming in order to make the soil more fertile for vegetation. I considered the presence of earthworms in my garden to be horrifying, but had I known that they are helping my plants grow healthier, I would have never hurt them. Did you know earthworms are also known as a farmer's friend? This is because there burrowing and digging replenishes the soil. Once they have eaten on the plant decays, their waste material, which is known as castings, helps in providing necessary nutrients to the plants in your garden. Also because bacteria and fungi are one of earthworms favorite delicacies, they help in pest control as well. The presence of earthworms help reduce soil erosion and helps in making the soil more fertile. So the more earthworms you have in your garden, the better it is for your plants.

Now that you are aware of what do earthworms eat, and where do they live, make sure that the next time you see an earthworm, give them food as per their eating habits, which includes decayed or rotting plant remains, fungi, sludge, etc., and make them feel comfortable in your garden. Their presence will give you a chance to get much healthier fruits and vegetables in your garden.