What Do Worms Eat
If you have ever wondered what do worms eat then you have come to the right place. That and other wonderful worm trivia will be covered here.
Worms are something that most people know little about. We all know they exist, of course. Some are grossed out by them, others use them for fishing. Kids love to pick them up and watch them squirm. And that is about the extent of worm knowledge in the general public. Well, the ignorance is about to end with some interesting tidbits about the earthworms that live in the dirt-filled world around us.
Answering the question what do worms eat is fairly simple. They eat dead plant roots, decomposing stems, leaves and other items that are decaying in the dirt. That is why worms do best when living deep within a rich, well-composted soil.
Most worms are tiny creatures, so they cannot eat a big bunch of food at one time. They have small mouths and can only consume little bits when they eat. Within the dirt that is a worm’s home there are bacteria, fungi and protozoa that provide needed nutrients to worms. Dead and decomposing plant and animal materials are excellent sources for everything a worm needs to survive.
Going along with what do worms eat is the question how do worms eat. Well, worms have no teeth, so they basically suck their food in from the dirt surrounding them. A worm would adore living in a big compost pile, which is loaded with organic material that is decaying and releasing the bacteria they use for nutrition and growth. Since they cannot chew, worms secrete a type of slime that adds moisture to the earth around them and makes it easy to draw into their bodies.
Worms rely on nutrients and wetness in the food they eat to keep their bodies moist, because a dry worm is an unhealthy or, even worse, a dead worm. In fact, most worms cannot live in the light for more than an hour. Light causes the worm’s skin to dry out and then they become paralyzed and unable to move. This will eventually cause their death.
As long as worms stay in the dark, they will remain healthy, and they even have the power of regeneration and can repair their bodies if they should become damaged. If a worm’s head is cut off, they will usually die, but if a worm is separated from their tail they have the ability to grow a new one!
Worms are not just good for fishing. They also benefit gardeners. As worms move along through the soil where they live, they release secretions that contain nitrogen which is great for plants and helps them become hearty. Rich garden soil will attract worms and in turn, the worms will leave behind nutrition for the plants to thrive on.