Types of Earthworms

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The best earthworms to use are Red Wigglers, also called brandling worms (Eisenia Foetida or Eisenia Andrei), or European Nightcrawlers (Eisenia Hortensis). The three species are completely compatible with each other and can coexist nicely in the same worm bin.

These earthworms are commonly found in organic-rich soils throughout Europe and parts of North America and live in rotting vegetation and manures. As they are shallow-dwelling and feed on decomposing plant matter in the soil, they adapt easily to living on food or plant waste in the confines of a worm bin. They will eat up to three times their body weight in food scraps per day.

Do not attempt to use Canadian Nightcrawlers (Lumbricus terrestris) or the common fieldworm (Allolobophora caliginosa), the types found throughout North America, because they are essentially vagabonds by nature and do better in open spaces with lower density populations.

Climate & Temperature for Earthworms

The most common types of earthworms used in Vermi composting feed most rapidly at temperatures of 59-77°F. They can survive down to around 50°F, but temperatures above 86°F may harm them. This means that indoor with redworms is suitable in all but tropical climates. If a worm bin is kept outside, it should be placed in a sheltered position away from direct sunlight and insulated against frost in winter.

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It is a good idea to monitor the temperatures of worm bins, especially in large-scale bin systems, which can have high heat retention qualities, causing the decaying worm food to compost instead, further heating up the bins and killing the earthworms.