Under Your Feet

18

A WORM’S

WORK

Earthworms do lots of hidden

jobs, especially in the spring and

the autumn. This is when most soils

are warm and moist. The three main

earthworm types are surface worms,

topsoil worms, and deep burrowers.

Wildlife food

Earthworms are

an important food for

wildlife such as birds

and foxes. Foxes catch

up to 10 juicy worms

a minute.

Leaf decomposers

Red surface worms usually grow to the

size of a matchstick. These worms feed

on dead leaves near the soil surface.

They poo the nutrients from the leaves

into the soil.

Off-duty worms

Soil can become too dry

for earthworms. Then, the

worms make small

chambers, and curl up

into tight knots to rest

and avoid losing moisture.

This can be for days or

months, until the soil

conditions improve.

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Mucus-lined

chambers help

worms survive

the summer.

Birds catch worms to

feed their chicks.

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