I Found Compost Worms in My Garden

Types

• There are thousands of different types of earthworms in the United States and around the world. Often the same worms will have different names in different parts of the country. Earthworms are also called garden worms, tiger worms, brandling worms or just plain worms. Red worms may be known as manure worms, compost worms or red wigglers. These names are not applied consistently, even in the same regions.

Diet

• Compost worms, as well as most other kinds of earthworms, eat dead and decaying plant matter as the main part of their diets. Some of them eat dead animals, but most of them don't. Worms found in compost piles, manure piles and areas thick with dead leaves are there to feed. Each one can eat a lot, consuming up to its own body weight each day.

Habits

• The worms often referred to as compost worms--usually red worms--prefer a rich diet of organic matter. The fact that they like compost does not mean they can't live in other areas such as in the garden. Compost worms in the garden means that the garden soil is rich with organic matter and is healthy. It's attractive to worms and better for the plants.

Imposters

• Sometimes people find bugs in the garden that they think are worms but, in fact, are not. Grubs live in the soil and look a lot like small worms, but these are usually the larvae of beetles and will kill living plants. Caterpillars are also called worms and can be very destructive in the garden. These pests should be removed from the garden to prevent the destruction of the plants.