Red wigglers, Red Worms, European Red Wigglers and Blue Worms are common names for several red colored composting worms. In Canada these can be 1 of 5 different species that are all surface dwelling compost worms. Each variety has unique features and benefits and all like to co habitat and its often hard to find a single species on its own.
Earthworms are different. They are not surface dwellers and like to make long tunnels in your garden and are usually not found in a high organics environment. Earthworms are twice the size as the red wiggler varieties, but they are both great composters.
Worms are vegetarians;
Under ideal conditions worms can consume 1/2 their body weight a day in organics. Food scrapes can be added whole, chopped, or puree. The softer the organics, such as melons versus carrots, the faster the worms will compost it.
There are those who freeze their organics first, thaw and feed.
Any which way you choose to prepare the organics there are just a few things to remember.
Worms are hermaphrodites, which means they can be female and male. However two worms are still required for reproduction.
Worms lay eggs. Yes eggs!
They look like small cocoons and start off a bright lemon yellow and mature in about 3 weeks to a dark brown. Each cocoon can have anywhere from 2 to 7 baby red worms and adults can lay 1 to 2 cocoons per week. It takes about 3 months from the hatch for a compost worm to start reproducing themselves.
Population control? Don’t worry they moderate themselves. Your worm population will continue to grow, based on food availability and the size of their bin.