Vermicomposting is a natural process of organic waste treatment which is currently practiced worldwide with increasing popularity.
It is a process by which the bioconversion of organic waste into an organic fertilizer is accelerated and conditioned by the activity of epigeic earthworms., meaning that these worms prefer to live in manures, dungs or leaf litter rather than mineral soils.
These are saprophytic organisms, that eat fresh decomposing organic matter and the microbial biomass therein. Their guts act as bioreactors, through which, the worm casts are produced. The material that passed trough the guts of earthworms are known as the drilosphere.
Few worm species are suitable for composting commercially or at home scale. The worm type most commonly used for vermicompost is the red wiggler or tiger worm. The red wigglers nevertheless correspond to two species: Eisenia fetida and Eisenia Andrei. Although Eisenia fetida is more commonly used, Eisenia andrei has one key advantage. These two worms behave very similarly, the main difference is that Eisenia Andrei is more prolific than Eisenia fetida. Whereas Eisenia fetida produces 3 to 5 hatching per cocoon, Eisenia Andrei produces up to 12 hatchings per cocoon. The cocoon is laid 2 days after copulation and incubates typically for 18 to 26 days, but can stay dormant for months of winter or dry periods. After hatching, they reach sexual maturity from 30 to 40 days and reach adult size in 6 months. Their maximum life expectancy is 5 years.
Visually, Eisenia fetida is clearly striped whereas Eisenia Andrei is darker in color with the characteristic stripes are less pronounced. The size of the adults is about 50 to 70 mm with yellow tail, bulging clitellum and epibolic prostomium.
Do not mix these species since they may hybridize. Eisenia andrei and E Eisenia fetida are simultaneous hermaphrodites with reciprocal insemination capable of self-fertilization with the capacity of hybridization. Depending on the subspecies or strain used, the cocoons produced by cross insemination may eider produce no hatchings or few hybrids hatching from Eisenia Andrei ova. In any case the overall fertility of the population will plummet in mixed cultures.
Bottomline, if you are starting and can choose, Eisenia andrei is the preferred species for vermicomposting.
