A COMPARISON OF THE BIOLOGY OF EISENIA-FOETIDA AND EISENIA-ANDREI (OLIGOCHAETA)

Specimens of locally occurring Eisenia fetida were compared with specimens of E. fetida and E. andrei obtained from France. All specimens were cultured in the laboratory under controlled conditions and growth, maturation, cocoon production, hatching success, and the number of hatchlings were compared. The results showed some differences between the two "forms". The eventual worm biomass was the same for both, although the growth reats and the rate at which maturity was attained differed. E. andrei had a higher cumulative cocoon production. Although the local worms resembled E. andrei in appearance their cocoon production rate resembled that of E. fetida from France. E. andrei produced higher numbers of hatchlings per cocoon. The results show that the biology of the two species/forms is similar. The study did not provide convincing proof to substantiate a taxonomic distinction between the two "forms" of Eisenia.