Soil Specialists

Earthworm Words

Did You Know?

The Inside Story

It's YOUR Turn

Earthworms: Soil Specialists

Earthworms are AMAZING creatures! They tunnel through the soil without eyes or legs. They breathe through their skin. Without them, the earth's soil would not be as fertile.

Earthworms are decomposers. That means that they, along with other plants and animals, help recycle nature.

How does this happen? As the living parts of an environment die, they collect on the ground and begin to decompose. This collection is called organic material and is PERFECT earthworm food!

Earthworms move their segmented bodies through the organic material. As they go, they eat.

Like humans, earthworms cannot digest everything they eat. What they cannot digest is released as waste called castings. These castings add important nutrients to the soil.

As earthworms move from place to place, they create burrows. As they burrow, earthworms mix up the soil. Burrowing also allows air and water to get deep into the soil. When air and water reach deep into the soil, we say the soil has become aerated.

Earthworm action is important to everyone who needs or uses soil - that's all of us! So, the next time you see a "squirmy wormy" remember that you are seeing a soil specialist in action!!!

Check It Out!

The Internet allows you to go to interesting places right from your desk! At this site, you can learn more about the life of an earthworm! Squirmin' Herman