Nightcrawler

The nightcrawler is a very large earthworm. It is reddish brown with a purple sheen and appears iridescent in bright light. It is a deep-burrowing earthworm. Nightcrawlers feed on the soil surface. They pull leaves and other organic materials down into their burrows. Nightcrawlers are useful in orchards, where they remove leaves that fall to the ground.

Scientific name: Lumbricus terrestris Status: introduced Soil niche: anecic Length: 90–300 mm

Image: Ross Gray