Common Garden Earthworms

Grey worm (Aporrectodea caliginosa)

Grey worm (Aporrectodea caliginosa) © Matt Shardlow

This worm is between 4-18cm long and variable in colour ranging from a pale pink and whitish grey to a reddish brown and purplish brown. It is very common and numerous in garden soil but is not often seen in compost heaps and leaf litter. Prefers alkaline soils pH 5.9-11, they live in the top 7cm of the soil where they create temporary horizontal burrows and make small surface casts. Larger worms are deep burrowing and make large surface casts.

Long-worm (Aporrectodea longa)

This worm is 9-17cm long and varies in colour from pale yellow brown to dark reddish brown, it is common in gardens and allotments especially those with loamy or chalky soils preferring a pH 6.7 – 9.4. The worm makes long deep burrows and produces large casts at their entrance. They are most active during March to May and then again from September to December.

Rosy-tip worm (Aporrectodea rosea)

This worm is 2.5-8.5cm long, one end is a clear rosy pink and the rest of the body is pale pink or pinkish grey. Commonly found in gardens and allotments and occurs in most soils between pH 4.9 - 9.8, can be found in soil, under leaves, stones and logs, also been seen in greenhouses.

Cockspur worm (Dendrodrilus rubidus)

Cockspur worms are 2cm-10cm long, dark red to pink and then pale underneath, they are sometimes yellow at one end. This worm favours woodlands, rich garden soil, compost, leaf mould and deadwood.

Tiger worm (Eisenia fetida)

Tiger Worm (Eisenia fetida) © Roger Key

The Tiger worm is 6-12cm long, its colour varies from light pink to purplish red or brown, with transverse bands of yellowish white. These worms are found under damp rotting vegetation under deadwood in areas between pH 4.3-7.5.They are common in rich organic soils and in compost. They have been found in old buildings between floor cracks and occasionally from drains and toilets!

Red worm (Lumbricus rubellus)

The Red worm is 6-13cm long, its colour varies from a brownish to purplish red above and pale below. They like soil with a high organic content, found in decaying leaves, under stones and in moss prefering soils with a pH 3.5-8.4.

Lob worm (Lumbricus terrestris)

Lob worms mating (Lumbricus terrestris) © John Mason

The Lob worm is 9-35cm, their colour is brownish to purplish red above, yellow-orange below, with one end a flat paddle shape. They like undisturbed habitats, common in lawns found in alkaline soils pH 6.2-10, and are especially abundant in clay. Lob worms are often exposed when digging garden beds and are obvious as large red earthworms.

Blue-grey worm (Octolasion cyaneum)

The blue-grey worm is 8-14cm long, one end is often rosy and the other has an obvious yellow tip. They prefer moist soils at pH 3.5-8.2, they also occur in wet sand, under stones in water, and in moss. Blue-grey worms are often seen after heavy showers having left their burrows and wandering on the soil surface.