4-H Vermicomposting

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4-H Vermicomposting

• A 5th grade school enrichment program

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Lesson 3 Earthworm Anatomy

• Objectives
• Learn and discuss internal and external anatomy
  of worms
• Discover some characteristics of worms
• Review
• Why are earthworms important
• Describe the set-up of a worm bin

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Did you know?

• Worms have no eyes and are sensitive to light
• Worms have no lungs or gills and breathe through
  their skin
• A worms skin needs to be moist to breathe, so
  bedding must be moist

They do not wear glasses either!
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External Anatomy of a Worm
(1) Anuswhere waste is excreted from worm
(2) Segmentsareas of worms outer body that
bend, stretch and aid in movement
(3) Setaestiff hairs on exterior of worm that
help it move
(4) Clitellumlocated near worms head genitalia
is located here
(5) Mouthwhere worm ingests food
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Earthworms Internal Organs
Is an earthworm a vertebrate (an animal with a
backbone) or an invertebrate (has no
backbone)?
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Worm Cocoons

• Worms cocoons contain an average of 3 baby worms
• Cocoons are shaped like lemons 1/8 of an inch long

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Questions to Answer While Examining Your Worm

1. How does worm feel and react to touch?
2. How can you tell which end is the head or tail?
3. How does the worm move?
4. Does the worm have an odor?
5. What color is the worm? Does it have markings?
6. Can you see through the skin? What do you see?
7. Does the worm have a swollen band around it? If
   so, what is it called?