Glossary

clitellum known as the saddle of the worm, its the large pinky-orange band which creates slime to wrap sperm and eggs in after mating. It goes hard and slides off the worms, turning into a cocoon.

cocoon the nutrient rich egg case which contains up to 20 embryonic worms, although only a few hatch

coelomic fluid the slime which a worm produces to keep its skin moist and to protect it from predators

composting worm the type of worm which lives in topsoil and feeds on rotting vegetable waste

crop a sack behind the worms mouth where food it stored on its way down to the gizzard

earthworker worm the type of worm which makes deep burrows in your garden and eats a diet of leaves and earth.

ganglion a mass of neurons connected ultimately to the light sensors on the worms body

gizzard a sack behind the crop, which is strong walled and acts as a food processor by mashing up the worm's food with the help of grit.

hatchlings newly hatched worms, which are see through but perfectly formed with the right number of segments

intestines where digestion and absorption of food takes ending up at the anus, where non-digested food and soil are excreted as worm castings

landfill purgatory the place where old food and newspapers sit and fester for years and years giving off methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Oligochaeta the class of segmented worms which earthworms belong to

pH a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. Measured from 1 -14, with 7 being neutral

prostomium the tongue like pad above the worm's mouth which gets it forge new burrows and get food into its mouth

root dwelling worm the type of worm which in burrows lives deep under the surface and usually never comes above ground at any time.

segmented worms the family of invertebrates, known as Annelida, which earthworms belong to

segments the ring like sections which worms are made from connected together by membranes

setae the bristle like hairs, found around the segments of worms, which help them move along

species a category of classification for any animals which can breed together and produce fertile offspring

worm casts worm poo- made of soil, undigested vegetable matter, some bacteria and lots of plant nutrients

vermicompost the end product of your wormery including worm castings, some broken down bedding, worms cocoons and other small organisms.