Common Earthworms
Lumbricus terrestris
Lumbricus terrestris
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Most of the earthworms found in North America are invasives. These worms came from Europe, Asia, and even South America. And while most people think earthworms are helpful to ecosystems, they actually can cause harm, especially in the forests of North America which developed without earthworms. More research is being conducted, but the bottom line is that earthworms alter environments, and often not in a positive way.
| The thickened section of the worm near its head is called a clitellum. The clitellum is part of the reproductive system, where a viscid fluid is secreted to form a cocoon around the eggs. The number of segments between the head and the clitellum is useful in identifying the type of earthworm. |
