11.3.1.8 Drawida willsi (Michaelsen)
This epigeic worm is reported from crop fields, soil with organic matter, compost
pits, kitchen wastes, etc. Favourable growth and cocoon laying occurs in 25
C in
laboratory culture (Dash 2012). Cocoon case is very hard. Cocoon production is
about 15 mature worm
À1 year
À1 . Number of young per cocoon varies from 2 to
3. Incubation period is 14–18 days during October to December.
11.3.1.9 Lampito mauritii Kinberg 1866
L. mauritii is an epianecic or anecic earthworm species occurring in grassland, crop
field, forest litter, garden soil, garbage, compost heaps, and sewage. Its origin was
India (Palni/ Cardamom hills in the Western Ghats) and presently it is widely
distributed in India. It feeds on decaying plant material, soil micro-fungi, nematodes,
and soil. Casts are deposited on the soil surface in the form of small globular pallets.
This species is suitable for organic waste conditioner for canteen waste, domestic
waste, municipal organic waste, agricultural waste, etc. But for its survival in organic
waste, it needs soil bedding. This species has semi-continuous breeding strategy,
fecundity 43 cocoons worm
À1 year
À1 , development time 15 days, hatching success
60%, and 1.67 hatchling cocoon
À1 (Bhattacharjee and Chaudhuri 2002). Its life cycle
in cow dung and press mud is 117 days and 108 days, respectively (Parthasarathi
2007). In press mud, sexual maturity is attained within 51–76 days (Parthasarathi
2007). Growth rate of 14 mg worm
À1 day
À1 and 17 mg worm
À1 day
À1 in cow dung
were recorded (Parthasarathi 2007).
P. elongata, L. mauritii, M. posthuma, D. modiglianii, D. bolaui, and Metaphire
houlleti have an affinity for organic wastes. These earthworm species may be utilized
for breaking down of municipal solid wastes (vermistabilization) which contains a
considerable amount of soils. However, these species are not suitable for
vermicomposting, because they need soil bedding under the organic wastes for
their regular activity.
11.4 Effect of Food Supply on Growth and Reproduction
in Earthworms
Earthworms feed on a wide variety of organic material. The kind and amount of food
available influences not only the size of the earthworm population but also the
species present and their growth rate and fecundity (Edwards and Bohlen 1996).
Evans and Guild (1948) observed that earthworms fed on any nitrogen-rich diet grew
faster and produce more cocoons than those with little nitrogen available. Earthworms, in general, grow faster when provided with animal dung, leaf litter rich in
protein, and soluble sugar (Edwards and Bohlen 1996). Satchell (1967) reported that
188
P. Chaudhuri and S. Debnath
This epigeic worm is reported from crop fields, soil with organic matter, compost
pits, kitchen wastes, etc. Favourable growth and cocoon laying occurs in 25
C in
laboratory culture (Dash 2012). Cocoon case is very hard. Cocoon production is
about 15 mature worm
À1 year
À1 . Number of young per cocoon varies from 2 to
3. Incubation period is 14–18 days during October to December.
11.3.1.9 Lampito mauritii Kinberg 1866
L. mauritii is an epianecic or anecic earthworm species occurring in grassland, crop
field, forest litter, garden soil, garbage, compost heaps, and sewage. Its origin was
India (Palni/ Cardamom hills in the Western Ghats) and presently it is widely
distributed in India. It feeds on decaying plant material, soil micro-fungi, nematodes,
and soil. Casts are deposited on the soil surface in the form of small globular pallets.
This species is suitable for organic waste conditioner for canteen waste, domestic
waste, municipal organic waste, agricultural waste, etc. But for its survival in organic
waste, it needs soil bedding. This species has semi-continuous breeding strategy,
fecundity 43 cocoons worm
À1 year
À1 , development time 15 days, hatching success
60%, and 1.67 hatchling cocoon
À1 (Bhattacharjee and Chaudhuri 2002). Its life cycle
in cow dung and press mud is 117 days and 108 days, respectively (Parthasarathi
2007). In press mud, sexual maturity is attained within 51–76 days (Parthasarathi
2007). Growth rate of 14 mg worm
À1 day
À1 and 17 mg worm
À1 day
À1 in cow dung
were recorded (Parthasarathi 2007).
P. elongata, L. mauritii, M. posthuma, D. modiglianii, D. bolaui, and Metaphire
houlleti have an affinity for organic wastes. These earthworm species may be utilized
for breaking down of municipal solid wastes (vermistabilization) which contains a
considerable amount of soils. However, these species are not suitable for
vermicomposting, because they need soil bedding under the organic wastes for
their regular activity.
11.4 Effect of Food Supply on Growth and Reproduction
in Earthworms
Earthworms feed on a wide variety of organic material. The kind and amount of food
available influences not only the size of the earthworm population but also the
species present and their growth rate and fecundity (Edwards and Bohlen 1996).
Evans and Guild (1948) observed that earthworms fed on any nitrogen-rich diet grew
faster and produce more cocoons than those with little nitrogen available. Earthworms, in general, grow faster when provided with animal dung, leaf litter rich in
protein, and soluble sugar (Edwards and Bohlen 1996). Satchell (1967) reported that
188
P. Chaudhuri and S. Debnath