13. Soil living and commercial earthworms
Most earthworm species live in the SOIL. There are 4 species that are commercial (waste management) earthworms. Of these 4, the Eisenia fetida is the most widely researched and used, and is the one that produces Fertilis. There is concern going around that we are spreading an environmental risk by propagating the Eisenia fetida earthworms for domestic and commercial waste management, as they will “take over” our indigenous earthworms. In my humble opinion, this is not so for various reasons:

• The Eisenia fetida CANNOT live in soil. They will most certainly die and they will not multiply and lay cocoons, as our soils are too lean for them.

• The fact that there are between 3 500 and 6 000 SPECIES of earthworms on the planet, means that they are very specific to their habitats, and no two species can interbreed.

• The climate conditions in South Africa as a rule are harsh for earthworms, and of our SA species (about 300) none of them are top-dwellers. Our SA earthworms need a lot of territory in which to roam and are mostly underground soil dwellers. (Continues on Next page)