However, red wigglers aren’t cheap, and the rising demand for all things garden-related owing to the COVID epidemic in 2020 has pushed up costs for all composting worms. Red wigglers are constantly less expensive than European nightcrawlers and substantially less expensive than African nightcrawlers due to their adaptation to varied conditions and ability to breed swiftly in them. Its cocoons are also well-known for their resilience, being able to resist lengthy freezing temperatures while remaining healthy until they can hatch in warmer weather. The red wiggler can reproduce and process organic waste at temperatures ranging from 55☏ to 90☏ and can endure both extremes. Warmer temperatures between 77☏ and 86☏ are preferred by African Nightcrawlers. The European Nightcrawler, for example, likes cooler weather in the high-60☏ range. Red wigglers are hardy composting worms that can withstand a broader temperature range than other worm species. Red Wigglers: Hardiness and Temperature Tolerance Rather, it is the most suited composting worm for most newbie vermicomposters due to a mix of affordability, resilience, and tolerance in a wide range of temperatures, etc. But why is that? There’s probably more than one cause for this. But, of course, vermicomposting is its primary application.Īs previously said, they are the most prevalent composting worm on the planet. The powerful red wiggler can be used as a bait worm for smaller fish or as a source of protein for chickens and reptiles. According to a study, the two can generate hybrid offspring, something that most worm species would deem unattainable. This species is strongly connected to the more evenly colored Eisenia Andrei and has vivid color with yellow banding. Tiger worms, brandling worms, dung worms, panfish worms, and trout worms are some of the lesser-known names for red wigglers.

They prefer to live in and around leaf litter, dung, rotting plants, and other organic waste.īecause Eisenia fetida is native to Europe, it is not regarded as an invasive species in North America because it has no adverse environmental impacts in the wild. Red wigglers are a type of composting worm that belongs to the epidemic, Latin for the “on the earth” family. The most popular composting worm is the red wiggler (binomial name: Eisenia fetida).

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