The European nightcrawler (Dendrobaena hortensis) is a medium-small earthworm averaging about 1.5 g when fully grown. Generally blueish, pink-grey in color with a banded or striped appearance, the tips of their tails are often cream or pale yellow. When the species has not been feeding, it is pale pink. The species is usually found in deep woodland litter and garden soils that are rich in organic matter in European countries. D. hortensis is sold primarily as a bait worm, but its popularity as a composting worm is increasing.[2]
It was considered part of Eisenia until 2003.[3] It is also formerly considered part of the similar Dendrobaena veneta,[1] but now just part of the species complex. Both are useful compost worms.[4] The two species are probably not distinguished in vermicomposting. In general, the E. hortensis name is more common in North America while the D. veneta name is more common in Europe.[5]
The other specific epithet veneta refers to the Veneto region, a region of northern Italy.
Usageedit
Compared to Eisenia fetida, D. hortensis does best in an environment with a higher carbon to nitrogen ratio. This makes it well suited to compost pits high in fibrous materials commonly known as browns.[6] European nightcrawlers can be invasive and should be used only in contained compost systems in parts of the world with northern deciduous and boreal forest ecosystems.[7]
Scanning electron micrograph of a newly hatched European nightcrawler (Eisenia hortensis)
Reproductionedit
D. hortensis, as a hermaphrodite, has both male and female reproductive organs. In mating, the weaker partner is forced into the female role, which is more expensive in terms of biological reproduction costs, for a sperm cell is generally less massive and energy-demanding than an ovum (egg cell), which is the female reproductive cell (gamete) in anisogamous organisms. Two worms join clitella, the large, lighter-colored bands that contain the worms' reproductive organs, and are only prominent during the reproduction process. The two worms exchange sperm. Both worms may secrete cocoons that contain an egg each. These cocoons are lemon-shaped and are pale yellow at first, becoming more brownish as the worms inside become mature. These cocoons are clearly visible to the naked eye.
Statistics
From egg to sexual maturity is about 20 weeks.
Net reproduction of 0.8 eggs per adult per week occurs.
^"Red wiggler versus the european nightcrawler, Part 2". wormsetc.com. 16 December 2010.
^Csuzdi, C., Zicsi, A., 2003. Earthworms of Hungary (Annelida: Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae). Pedozool. Hung. 1, 1–272.
^Szederjesi, Tímea; Pavlíček, Tomáš; Márton, Orsolya; Krízsik, Virág; Csuzdi, Csaba (9 February 2019). "Integrative taxonomic revision of Dendrobaena veneta (Rosa, 1886) sensu lato with description of a new species and resurrection of Dendrobaena succinta (Rosa, 1905) (Megadrili: Lumbricidae)". Journal of Natural History. 53 (5–6): 301–314. doi:10.1080/00222933.2019.1593537.
^"Eisenia hortensis vs. Dendrobaena veneta | Red Worm Composting". www.redwormcomposting.com.
^"Eisenia fetida, or hortensis? Whats the difference? Red wigglers or European nightcrawlers? Part 1". wormsetc.com. 3 December 2010.
^"Do Composting Worms Pose a Threat as Invasive Species? - Red Worm Composting". www.redwormcomposting.com.
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dendrobaena, hortensis, european, nightcrawler, medium, small, earthworm, averaging, about, when, fully, grown, generally, blueish, pink, grey, color, with, banded, striped, appearance, tips, their, tails, often, cream, pale, yellow, when, species, been, feedi. The European nightcrawler Dendrobaena hortensis is a medium small earthworm averaging about 1 5 g when fully grown Generally blueish pink grey in color with a banded or striped appearance the tips of their tails are often cream or pale yellow When the species has not been feeding it is pale pink The species is usually found in deep woodland litter and garden soils that are rich in organic matter in European countries D hortensis is sold primarily as a bait worm but its popularity as a composting worm is increasing 2 Dendrobaena hortensis Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Annelida Clade Pleistoannelida Clade Sedentaria Class Clitellata Order Opisthopora Family Lumbricidae Genus Dendrobaena Species D hortensis Binomial name Dendrobaena hortensis Michaelsen 1890 1 Synonyms Eisenia hortensis Dendrobaena veneta Rosa 1886 var hortensis It was considered part of Eisenia until 2003 3 It is also formerly considered part of the similar Dendrobaena veneta 1 but now just part of the species complex Both are useful compost worms 4 The two species are probably not distinguished in vermicomposting In general the E hortensis name is more common in North America while the D veneta name is more common in Europe 5 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Usage 3 Reproduction 4 ReferencesEtymology editThe former genus Eisenia is named after Swedish scientist Gustav Eisen According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature the specific name hortensis of the garden is derived from Latin hortus meaning garden The other specific epithet veneta refers to the Veneto region a region of northern Italy Usage editCompared to Eisenia fetida D hortensis does best in an environment with a higher carbon to nitrogen ratio This makes it well suited to compost pits high in fibrous materials commonly known as browns 6 European nightcrawlers can be invasive and should be used only in contained compost systems in parts of the world with northern deciduous and boreal forest ecosystems 7 nbsp Scanning electron micrograph of a newly hatched European nightcrawler Eisenia hortensis Reproduction editD hortensis as a hermaphrodite has both male and female reproductive organs In mating the weaker partner is forced into the female role which is more expensive in terms of biological reproduction costs for a sperm cell is generally less massive and energy demanding than an ovum egg cell which is the female reproductive cell gamete in anisogamous organisms Two worms join clitella the large lighter colored bands that contain the worms reproductive organs and are only prominent during the reproduction process The two worms exchange sperm Both worms may secrete cocoons that contain an egg each These cocoons are lemon shaped and are pale yellow at first becoming more brownish as the worms inside become mature These cocoons are clearly visible to the naked eye Statistics From egg to sexual maturity is about 20 weeks Net reproduction of 0 8 eggs per adult per week occurs Egg cells are oviposited in a cocoon One E hortensis embryo per egg per cocoon occurs References edit a b Dendrobaena hortensis Michaelsen 1890 www gbif org Red wiggler versus the european nightcrawler Part 2 wormsetc com 16 December 2010 Csuzdi C Zicsi A 2003 Earthworms of Hungary Annelida Oligochaeta Lumbricidae Pedozool Hung 1 1 272 Szederjesi Timea Pavlicek Tomas Marton Orsolya Krizsik Virag Csuzdi Csaba 9 February 2019 Integrative taxonomic revision of Dendrobaena veneta Rosa 1886 sensu lato with description of a new species and resurrection of Dendrobaena succinta Rosa 1905 Megadrili Lumbricidae Journal of Natural History 53 5 6 301 314 doi 10 1080 00222933 2019 1593537 Eisenia hortensis vs Dendrobaena veneta Red Worm Composting www redwormcomposting com Eisenia fetida or hortensis Whats the difference Red wigglers or European nightcrawlers Part 1 wormsetc com 3 December 2010 Do Composting Worms Pose a Threat as Invasive Species Red Worm Composting www redwormcomposting com nbsp This annelid related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dendrobaena hortensis amp oldid 1168618920, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
