Earthworms in Ohio

Night Crawlers

• Night crawlers are 8 to 10 inches long and are a favorite of fishermen due to the large size. This worm is easily found at night with a flashlight along lawn edges after a rain. It likes soil temperatures of less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, making it common in the Midwest. Night crawlers come to the surface to feed on grass and dead leaves, which they draw back to their burrows. This worm is not the best choice for commercial use due to its slow reproduction rates.

Garden Worms

• Garden worms, also called field worms, are 5 to 7 inches long and are commonly found in pastures and under rocks or boards. They are not prolific breeders, making them a poor choice to farm commercially. As the name indicates, garden worms will help plants to grow and thrive.

Manure Worms

• Manure worms are 4 to 5 inches long, dark in color and commonly found in nutrient-rich manure. This earthworm is sometimes called the red wiggler due to its squirming action when held. Manure worms reproduce well, making them popular with worm farmers.

Red Worms

• Red worms are found in the top layer of the soil, are 3 to 4 inches long and are reddish-brown in color. They are easier to raise than most worms because they multiply rapidly, representing 80 to 90 percent of the worms sold commercially. This worm is similar to the manure worm but is lighter in color and slightly smaller.