et al. (2008), Karmegam and Daniel (2008a, b) confirmed the high vermicomposting
potential of P. ceylanensis. Its mean growth rate varies from 1.34 to 1.79 mg
worm
À1 day
À1 . Worms cultured singly always have shown a much better growth
rate than those cultured in batches (Karmegam and Daniel 2009). The highest rate of
cocoon production ranging from 1.18 to 1.31 cocoon worm
À1 day
À1 was recorded
during the age of 120–150 days. The average incubation period is 18.5–19 days and
hatching success rate varies from 75–83%. Interestingly, copulation is not essential
for cocoon production in P. ceylanensis (Karmegam and Daniel 2009).
11.3.1.2 Perionyx sansibaricus Michaelsen
This epigeic earthworm is found in soil surface with leaf litter containing high
moisture, kitchen wastes and drainage, sewage and is believed to be suitable for
vermicomposting. A mature worm produces about 70 cocoons per year and one to
two juveniles are hatched from one cocoon.
11.3.1.3 Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg 1866)
This earthworm species is native to Africa, but it has been extensively bred in
Canada, the United States, India, and other countries. It is a large earthworm that
grows extremely rapidly and is a prolific breeder, and under optimum conditions it is
ideal for the production of animal feed protein. Due to its voracious food habit, it is
capable of decomposing large masses of organic wastes quickly. Compared to other
vermicomposting species, E. eugeniae has the preference for rubber leaf litter where
its mean growth rate and reproduction rate are 29 mg worm
À1 day
À1 and 1.4
juveniles worm
À1 day
À1 (Chaudhuri et al. 2003). It has preference for high temperature with maximum biomass production occurring at 25–30
C. The life cycle of
E. eugeniae ranges from 50 to 70 days. Sexual maturity is attained within
40–49 days, and a week after this period, the individual starts to lay cocoons at the
rate of 0.41–0.51 cocoon day
À1 . The cocoon incubation period ranges from 12 to
16 days, and hatching success from 75 to 84% with the mean number of earthworm
cocoon
À1 between 2 and 2.7 (Reinecke and Viljoen 1993; Dominguez et al. 2001).
Lifespan can be 1–3 years.
11.3.1.4 Eisenia fetida (Savigny 1826) and Eisenia andrei (Bouche 1972)
These dynamic lumbricid species are commonly utilized in vermicomposting mainly
because of their worldwide adaptability. Moreover, these worms can easily be
handled and have a wide range of temperature and moisture tolerance. While
E. andrei corresponds to the uniformly reddish morph, E. fetida has lightly yellowish
bands around the intersegmental groove. The two species are syntopic, commonly
living in mixed colonies in dung and vermicompost heaps, and therefore
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P. Chaudhuri and S. Debnath
potential of P. ceylanensis. Its mean growth rate varies from 1.34 to 1.79 mg
worm
À1 day
À1 . Worms cultured singly always have shown a much better growth
rate than those cultured in batches (Karmegam and Daniel 2009). The highest rate of
cocoon production ranging from 1.18 to 1.31 cocoon worm
À1 day
À1 was recorded
during the age of 120–150 days. The average incubation period is 18.5–19 days and
hatching success rate varies from 75–83%. Interestingly, copulation is not essential
for cocoon production in P. ceylanensis (Karmegam and Daniel 2009).
11.3.1.2 Perionyx sansibaricus Michaelsen
This epigeic earthworm is found in soil surface with leaf litter containing high
moisture, kitchen wastes and drainage, sewage and is believed to be suitable for
vermicomposting. A mature worm produces about 70 cocoons per year and one to
two juveniles are hatched from one cocoon.
11.3.1.3 Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg 1866)
This earthworm species is native to Africa, but it has been extensively bred in
Canada, the United States, India, and other countries. It is a large earthworm that
grows extremely rapidly and is a prolific breeder, and under optimum conditions it is
ideal for the production of animal feed protein. Due to its voracious food habit, it is
capable of decomposing large masses of organic wastes quickly. Compared to other
vermicomposting species, E. eugeniae has the preference for rubber leaf litter where
its mean growth rate and reproduction rate are 29 mg worm
À1 day
À1 and 1.4
juveniles worm
À1 day
À1 (Chaudhuri et al. 2003). It has preference for high temperature with maximum biomass production occurring at 25–30
C. The life cycle of
E. eugeniae ranges from 50 to 70 days. Sexual maturity is attained within
40–49 days, and a week after this period, the individual starts to lay cocoons at the
rate of 0.41–0.51 cocoon day
À1 . The cocoon incubation period ranges from 12 to
16 days, and hatching success from 75 to 84% with the mean number of earthworm
cocoon
À1 between 2 and 2.7 (Reinecke and Viljoen 1993; Dominguez et al. 2001).
Lifespan can be 1–3 years.
11.3.1.4 Eisenia fetida (Savigny 1826) and Eisenia andrei (Bouche 1972)
These dynamic lumbricid species are commonly utilized in vermicomposting mainly
because of their worldwide adaptability. Moreover, these worms can easily be
handled and have a wide range of temperature and moisture tolerance. While
E. andrei corresponds to the uniformly reddish morph, E. fetida has lightly yellowish
bands around the intersegmental groove. The two species are syntopic, commonly
living in mixed colonies in dung and vermicompost heaps, and therefore
186
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