Did you know? Worms

What is a worm?

A worm is a long, creeping animal, with a soft, often segmented body. They don't have legs but instead are covered in hairs or bristles that help them to move. They breathe through their skin, which must remain moist to absorb oxygen from the air.

They've existed for about 600 million years. There are about 34,000 different types of worm; many are so small you wouldn't be able to see them without a microscope!

Worms are hermaphrodite, which means they have both male and female reproductive cells. They do need another worm to reproduce with though. They lay their eggs, which hatch as little worms. Worms can live for up to 10 years.

What do worms eat?

Worms eat their own weight in organic waste, soil and minerals and excrete their own weight in castings daily, which makes compost and enriches the soil. One acre of worms can break up about 50 tonnes of soil. They don't eat living plant tissue, and so don't hurt plants either. They truly are a gardener's best friend! Some people even keep them as pets, feeding them on kitchen scraps just so the worms can make them lots of lovely compost for their gardens.

Interesting facts

• Worms are about 1,000 times stronger than people (relatively speaking, of course!).
• The longest earthworm is the African giant earthworm, which can grow up to 6.7m (22ft) long.
• Worms are tough little creatures. If you accidentally cut an earthworm in half while gardening, only half will die. The piece with the saddle (the fatter, pink part) will survive. When it's really cold outside in winter or baking hot in the summer, worms are able to survive by burrowing deep into the soil - at the same time escaping from light, which they hate.

Activity

Find a worm in your garden. See if you can see the bristles or hairs. Try using a magnifying glass!

Observe worms at work by making a worm farm in a jar in our Home-grown projects section.