Earthworms have some regenerative abilities. But can worms regenerate completely after being cut? Can they cut themselves as a defence mechanism? Since I was young, people told me that after cutting a few segments of an earthworm, each segment would grow into a new earthworm. Obviously, this is wrong and a bit of an urban myth. Earthworms are certainly not like how a starfish can grow back its tentacle or a gecko can grow back...
Continue reading...Do Worms Eat Bananas?
Yes, worms do eat bananas. Bananas are a great fruit to have in. One of their big bonuses is that you can eat them anywhere and not have to worry about washing it. They do, on the other hand, have their disadvantages. For example, as opposed to other types of fruits bananas tend to go bad quite quickly. With that being the case, sometimes we find ourselves with a bunch of bananas we just didn’t...
Continue reading...Do Worms Eat Orange Peels? (And Can They Eat Orange Flesh?)
When it comes to feeding the worms in a worm bin and/or vermicomposting system, it can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. Any responsible worm farmer will take the time to do as much research as possible in order to best take care of their wigglers (or your composting worm of choice). Of course, that involves doing some intensive research on what exactly they’re likely to eat and what’s good for them…and what’s not. What about...
Continue reading...Do Worms Eat Mushrooms?
Let’s face it: mushrooms aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. Many of us will have the experience of having to throw half a packet away because not everyone wants them and they do tend to grow mold relatively quickly. Worm bins and worm compost piles have shown to be a great solution for dealing with our organic waste, so do worms like mushrooms? The answer is, yes, worms love to eat mushrooms. In nature, worms eat...
Continue reading...Do Worms Eat Soil? (Do All Earthworms Species Feed On Dirt?)
Whether you like them or not, worms are an essential part of our eco-system and are incredibly interesting creatures. Our little friends in the soil provide us with a service that we too often take for granted. Now, we know that worms live in the soil, but do earthworms EAT soil? The answer is, yes, worms do eat soil. To be more precise, worms eat the decaying particles within the soil. Indeed, they enjoy the...
Continue reading...Do Worms Eat Potatoes? (and Will Earthworms Eat Potato Peels?)
If you are researching what to feed and not to feed to your worms then you may have come across an array of different answers regarding the humble potato. Can you safely put spuds in your worm bin? Do they even like them, and their peels? Some find that their worms respond perfectly well to potato peelings whereas others do not. Worms will eat any organic decomposing matter and that, on the whole, includes potatoes. ...
Continue reading...Do Worms Eat Roots? (and Will Earthworms Cause Plant Root Damage?)
Are worms likely to chow down on and eat your plant roots? This is probably a question you’ve asked if you’ve considered a worm farm of your own. Worms eat almost any decaying or dead organic matter that can provide them with the nutrients that they need. Dead roots are a wonderful source of food for them. They will not, however, eat live roots! Yes, worms love eating roots, but only dead ones. Live roots...
Continue reading...Do Worms Eat Compost? (Or Do Composting Earthworms Just Create it?)
Yes, worms do eat compost, in its earlier stages. Worms eat all sorts of naturally decaying matter and then turn it into worm castings – which will in turn nourish your compost. Compost is made of decomposed organic material, so the finished product won’t necessarily be a worm’s cup of tea. It is in fact in the earlier stages of the composting process that a worm will be feasting! Can I feed compost to worms?...
Continue reading...Do Worms Eat Bread? (Even if it’s Moldy?)
Worms eat a variety of different things – your average worm in the wild can pick and choose its diet, but what about composting worms? What food scraps can we throw into our worm bins for them to eat – and do worms eat bread? Yes, worms will eat bread. It may not always be the most desired food for worms, nor the healthiest addition to their diet. However, it does contain natural ingredients, and...
Continue reading...Do Worms Eat Algae?
Algae is all around us. There are countless different types. We know that there are thousands of upon thousands, possibly even millions! But do worms eat algae as part of their average compost bin? Is algae actually beneficial to a worm’s nutrition? The answer is yes, earthworms that eat dirt do eat the algae that is found within, along with the different bacteria and fungi. They also eat seaweed, one of the most commonly-known forms...
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