{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:right; margin-left: 10px;
|+ !colspan="2" style="min-width:12em; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(200,150,90)|'''Scientific Classification'''<ref name="ITIS">Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). n.d. Uropygi. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=82710#null</ref><ref name="Maltais">Maltais, B. (2016). ''The Vinegaroon: A Salad with Frankenstein'' [Photograph]. https://www.macrophotobug.com/vinageroon-whip-scorpion-arizona/</ref>
|-
|colspan="2" |[[File:Uropygi.jpg|501px|right|caption]]
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Kingdom:
|style="min-width:6em; |[[Animals|Animalia]]
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Subkingdom:
|style="min-width:6em; |Bilateria
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Infrakingdom:
|style="min-width:6em; |Protostomia
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Superphylum:
|style="min-width:6em; |Ecdysozoa
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Phylum:
|style="min-width:6em; |Arthropoda
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Subphylum:
|style="min-width:6em; |Chelicerata
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Class:
|style="min-width:6em; |Arachnida
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Order:
|style="min-width:6em; |Uropygi
|}
The arachnid order Uropygi contains [[organisms]] more commonly known as whip scorpions or vinegaroons. Although they may be referred to as 'whip scorpions', they are not actually true [[scorpions]] (Order Scorpiones). The name 'vinegaroon' was coined off their unique ability to spray a mixture of acetic acid, caprylic acid, and water as a defense mechanism. Vinegar typically consists of 5–20% acetic acid; however, the chemical mixture secreted by vinegaroons typically contains up to 83% acetic acid, which can irritate and deter predators<ref name="ThoughtCo">Helmenstine, A.M. (2019). Vinegar Chemical Formula. ThoughCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/vinegar-chemical-formula-and-facts-608481</ref><ref name ="Smolinske">Smolinske, S.C., S.A. Seifert, B.W. Warrick, & Y. Tadfor. (2022). Vinegaroon exposures reported to a Poison center. ''Toxicon''. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0041010122002732</ref>.
== Characteristics and Morphology ==
As members of the class Arachnida, vinegaroons possess four pairs of legs. The first pair of legs are much thinner than the rest, as they are modified into sensitive, antenna-like structures. The remaining legs are used for walking. They have one pair of eyes on the front of their cephalothorax (front body segment) and up to five pairs on the sides. They are typically nocturnal and have poor eyesight, relying on their antenniform legs to sense their surroundings<ref name="AnimalFact">AnimalFact. (2024). Vinegaroon. https://animalfact.com/vinegaroon-uropygi/</ref>. They bear a pair of large pedipalps, or appendages with pincer-like structures used for capturing and holding onto prey, defending against predators, or digging up [[soil]] for burrowing. They use their pair of chelicerae (mouthparts) to chew prey. Their opisthosoma (abdomen) consists of twelve body segments with a whip-like flagella (tail) on the end, explaining the name "whip scorpion". This tail has a similar use to their antenniform legs in sensing vibrations and olfactory chemicals in the air<ref name="A&M">Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. n.d. Vinegaroon. https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/vinegaroon/</ref>. Vinegaroons have two pygidial glands at the base of their flagella where their vinegar-like secretions are produced. They can aim their tail towards predators when they feel threatened and release the acetic acid mixture with surprising accuracy<ref name="PBS">PBS Deep Look. (2022).''The Vinegaroon Sprays Acid to Foil Its Foes'' [Video]. https://www.pbs.org/video/the-vinegaroon-sprays-acid-to-foil-its-foes-3csgr1/</ref>. Vinegaroons typically grow around 9 cm (~3.5 in) long when fully grown, but this size may vary between species<ref name="Oakland">Oakland Zoo. n.d. Giant Vinegaroon. https://www.oaklandzoo.org/animals/giant-vinegaroon</ref>.

== Reproduction and Life Cycle ==
When mating, males will produce a packet of sperm, called a spermatophore, and transfer it to the female's genitals. Some species may exhibit a courtship "dance" when both the male and female are willing to mate. Males will hold the female's first pair of legs in their chelicerae and deposit the spermatophore on the ground, where it is picked up by the female. Males of other species may directly transfer the spermatophore to the female using their pedipalps<ref name="AnimalFact"></ref>.

Gravid females will then burrow into the soil and incubate her young. The female will lay a brood sac which will remain attached to her opisthosoma. After a couple months, the eggs in the brood sac will develop into nymphs and hatch. The amount of young per brood may vary across species, but typically lies between 20–40. The young resemble their adult forms, except they ae white in color and have red pedipalps. They will remain attached to the back of their mother using suckers until they undergo their first molt. Vinegaroons typically molt four times in four years until they reach adulthood<ref name="Oakland"></ref>. They typically live 4–7 years in the wild, with females living longer than males<ref name="AnimalFact"></ref>.

[[File:Vinegaroon_Young.jpg|401px|left|thumb|''Typopeltis crucifer'' female with young attached to her back.<ref name="flickr">cowyeow. (2012). ''Vinegaroon with Young'' [Photograph]. Uploaded to flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/cowyeow/10035768716</ref>]]

== Diet and Feeding Behaviors ==
Vinegaroons are voracious predators and mostly feed on [[invertebrates]], such as worms, [[slugs]], [[insects]], scorpions, [[Diplopoda|millipedes]], and [[isopods]]. Larger species may also feed on small vertebrates like lizards<ref name="AnimalFact"></ref>. Vinegaroons are often preyed upon by birds, lizards, and small mammals.

== Distribution ==
Vinegaroons live in warmer climates including grasslands, scrubland, deserts, and tropical regions. They can also be found in pine forests and mountainous areas. They tend to hide under rotting wood, rocks, or burrowed in the soil and come out at night to hunt<ref name="A&M"></ref>.

== References ==
<references />

2025-04-03T23:33:27Z

Miltonsv: grammar

[[File:Rhizobia.jpeg|500px|thumb|left|Pink rhizobia nodules actively fixing nitrogen]]
Rhizobia are Gram-negative bacteria that fix nitrogen in [[soil]] and aid in the growth and development of plants. Rhizobia comes from two Greek words — 'rhiza' meaning 'root', and 'bios', meaning 'life' <ref name= “Maitra”>Maitra, S., Praharaj, S., Brestic, M., Sahoo, R. K., Sagar, L., Shankar, T., Palai, J. B., Sahoo, U., Sairam, M., Pramanick, B., Nath, S., Venugopalan, V. K., Skalický, M., & Hossain, A. (2023). Rhizobium as Biotechnological Tools for Green Solutions: An Environment-Friendly Approach for Sustainable Crop Production in the Modern Era of Climate Change. Current microbiology, 80(7), 219. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-023-03317-w </ref>. Rhizobia can only fix nitrogen when associated with a plant that provides it with carbohydrates and are only associated with legumes, but not all legumes associate with rhizobia.

==Taxonomy==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:right; margin-left: 10px;
|+ !colspan="2" style="min-width:12em; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(235,235,210)|'''Scientific Classification'''
|-
|colspan="2" |
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Domain:
|style="min-width:6em; |Bacteria
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Phylum:
|style="min-width:6em; |Pseudomonadota
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Class:
|style="min-width:6em; |Alphaproteobacteria
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Order:
|style="min-width:6em; |Hyphomicrobiales
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Family:
|style="min-width:6em; |Rhizobiaceae
|-
!style="min-width:6em; |Genus:
|style="min-width:6em; |Rhizobium
|}

Rhizobia are not confined to a single genus, as they span multiple genera: Rhizobium, Ensifer, Mesorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Azorhizobium <ref name= “Ormeño-Orrillo”>Ormeño-Orrillo, E., Servín-Garcidueñas, L. E., Rogel, M. A., González, V., Peralta, H., Mora, J., Martínez-Romero, J., & Martínez-Romero, E. (2015). Taxonomy of rhizobia and agrobacteria from the Rhizobiaceae family in light of genomics. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 38(4), 287–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.syapm.2014.12.002 </ref>. The ability to fix nitrogen and form nodules is determined by symbiosis-related genes, which can be transferred between species. A characteristic of rhizobia belonging to the family Rhizobiaceae is their genome organization in multireplicons and their phenotypic distinctive characteristics in extrachromosomal replicons <ref name= “Ormeño-Orrillo”>Ormeño-Orrillo, E., Servín-Garcidueñas, L. E., Rogel, M. A., González, V., Peralta, H., Mora, J., Martínez-Romero, J., & Martínez-Romero, E. (2015). Taxonomy of rhizobia and agrobacteria from the Rhizobiaceae family in light of genomics. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 38(4), 287–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.syapm.2014.12.002 </ref>.

==Ecology and Habitat==

Rhizobia live in various environments, including soil, [[plant roots]], infection threads, and legume nodules at different stages <ref name= "Burghardt">Burghardt, L. T., & diCenzo, G. C. (2023). The evolutionary [[ecology]] of rhizobia: multiple facets of competition before, during, and after symbiosis with legumes. Current Opinion in Microbiology, 72, 102281–102281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2023.102281 </ref>. They also live in the phyllosphere and root, flower, and leaf endospheres of legumes <ref name= "Burghardt">Burghardt, L. T., & diCenzo, G. C. (2023). The evolutionary [[ecology]] of rhizobia: multiple facets of competition before, during, and after symbiosis with legumes. Current Opinion in Microbiology, 72, 102281–102281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2023.102281 </ref>. Their competition strategies changes depending on nutrient availability, microbial density, and host plant. Rhizobia have a competitive advantage, as they use organic acids as key carbon sources in the [[rhizosphere]] and have various transporters and metabolic genes that help them absorb and break down nutrients <ref name= "Burghardt">Burghardt, L. T., & diCenzo, G. C. (2023). The evolutionary [[ecology]] of rhizobia: multiple facets of competition before, during, and after symbiosis with legumes. Current Opinion in Microbiology, 72, 102281–102281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2023.102281 </ref>. Along with traits impacting the ability of rhizobia to inhabit the rhizosphere, competition for nodule occupancy also have an impact. Legumes can form dozens to over a thousand nodules, usually infected by a single rhizobium strain, creating a competitive bottleneck <ref name= "Burghardt">Burghardt, L. T., & diCenzo, G. C. (2023). The evolutionary [[ecology]] of rhizobia: multiple facets of competition before, during, and after symbiosis with legumes. Current Opinion in Microbiology, 72, 102281–102281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2023.102281 </ref>.

==Symbiotic Relationship with Legumes==

[[File:Rhizobium_and_Legumes.png|400px|thumb|left|Rhizobia-legume Symbiosis]]
The symbiosis between rhizobia and legumes begins with a signal exchange between the host and plant and its microsymbiont, where the host induces cell divisions to form root nodule primordia, and simultaneously initiates an infection process to deliver the bacteria into the nodule cells <ref name= “Wang”>Wang, Q., Liu, J., & Zhu, H. (2018). Genetic and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Symbiotic Specificity in Legume-Rhizobium Interactions. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9, 313–313. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.00313 </ref>. [[Root hairs]] then curl around the bacteria, forming infection threads that guide rhizobia into the root, where they are enclosed in membrane-bound structures called symbiosomes, where the bacteria transforms into nitrogen-fixing bacteria <ref name= “Wang”>Wang, Q., Liu, J., & Zhu, H. (2018). Genetic and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Symbiotic Specificity in Legume-Rhizobium Interactions. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9, 313–313. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.00313 </ref>. This symbiotic relationship is highly specific because no single rhizobial strain can form symbiosis with all legumes, and compatibility varies at species and genotypic levels <ref name= “Wang”>Wang, Q., Liu, J., & Zhu, H. (2018). Genetic and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Symbiotic Specificity in Legume-Rhizobium Interactions. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9, 313–313. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.00313 </ref>.

Through their symbiotic relationship with legumes, they enhance the availability of nutrients by breaking down [[Organic Matter|organic matter]] and releasing the nutrients into the soil <ref name= “Mng’ong’o”>Mng’ong’o, M. E., Ojija, F., & Aloo, B. N. (2023). The role of Rhizobia toward food production, food and soil security through microbial agro-input utilization in developing countries. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 8, 100404-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2023.100404 </ref>. Rhizobia and legumes work together to promote the growth of numerous plant species, thus strengthening the ecosystem <ref name= “Mng’ong’o”>Mng’ong’o, M. E., Ojija, F., & Aloo, B. N. (2023). The role of Rhizobia toward food production, food and soil security through microbial agro-input utilization in developing countries. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 8, 100404-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2023.100404 </ref>.

==Soil Benefits==

[[File:RhizoNodules.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Root nodules in legumes formed by rhizobia]]
Nitrogen is an important nutrient for plant growth and development, but plants do not have the ability to use the nitrogen in the atmosphere directly <ref name= “Ormeño-Orrillo”>Ormeño-Orrillo, E., Servín-Garcidueñas, L. E., Rogel, M. A., González, V., Peralta, H., Mora, J., Martínez-Romero, J., & Martínez-Romero, E. (2015). Taxonomy of rhizobia and agrobacteria from the Rhizobiaceae family in light of genomics. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 38(4), 287–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.syapm.2014.12.002 </ref>. Rhizobium forms symbiotic relationships with legume plants by developing root nodules, where it converts the nitrogen in the atmosphere into a form that plants can absorb <ref name= “Ormeño-Orrillo”>Ormeño-Orrillo, E., Servín-Garcidueñas, L. E., Rogel, M. A., González, V., Peralta, H., Mora, J., Martínez-Romero, J., & Martínez-Romero, E. (2015). Taxonomy of rhizobia and agrobacteria from the Rhizobiaceae family in light of genomics. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 38(4), 287–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.syapm.2014.12.002 </ref>. This process improves soil health by increasing nitrogen availability, contribute to increased soil microbial [[diversity]], and improving soil structure. Rhizobia also enhances soil security by creating and maintaining soil aggregates, increasing soil [[porosity]], water infiltration, and nutrient retention, increasing its resistance to erosion and deterioration <ref name= “Mng’ong’o”>Mng’ong’o, M. E., Ojija, F., & Aloo, B. N. (2023). The role of Rhizobia toward food production, food and soil security through microbial agro-input utilization in developing countries. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 8, 100404-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2023.100404 </ref>. Some strains of rhizobia also possess biocontrol [[properties]], suppressing plant infections and illnesses <ref name= “Mng’ong’o”>Mng’ong’o, M. E., Ojija, F., & Aloo, B. N. (2023). The role of Rhizobia toward food production, food and soil security through microbial agro-input utilization in developing countries. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 8, 100404-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2023.100404 </ref>. The use of rhizobia through biological nitrogen fixation, BNF, by farmers reduce the negative effects of pesticide use on the environment <ref name= “Mng’ong’o”>Mng’ong’o, M. E., Ojija, F., & Aloo, B. N. (2023). The role of Rhizobia toward food production, food and soil security through microbial agro-input utilization in developing countries. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 8, 100404-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2023.100404 </ref>.

==Rhizobium Biotechnology==

Biological nitrogen fixation, BNF, is a process where nitrogen-fixing bacteria that trap atmospheric nitrogen and convert it to NH3 for utilization by plants <ref name= “Maitra”>Maitra, S., Praharaj, S., Brestic, M., Sahoo, R. K., Sagar, L., Shankar, T., Palai, J. B., Sahoo, U., Sairam, M., Pramanick, B., Nath, S., Venugopalan, V. K., Skalický, M., & Hossain, A. (2023). Rhizobium as Biotechnological Tools for Green Solutions: An Environment-Friendly Approach for Sustainable Crop Production in the Modern Era of Climate Change. Current microbiology, 80(7), 219. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-023-03317-w </ref>. The use of rhizobia in [[agriculture]] is an alternative to pesticide to increased crop growth. Rhizobia may produce phytohormones such as gibberellic acid, IAA, and cytokinins that promote plant growth and development. Rhizobium biotechnology can provide additional benefits of crop stress tolerance, improvement in crop growth, and better quality of produce <ref name= “Maitra”>Maitra, S., Praharaj, S., Brestic, M., Sahoo, R. K., Sagar, L., Shankar, T., Palai, J. B., Sahoo, U., Sairam, M., Pramanick, B., Nath, S., Venugopalan, V. K., Skalický, M., & Hossain, A. (2023). Rhizobium as Biotechnological Tools for Green Solutions: An Environment-Friendly Approach for Sustainable Crop Production in the Modern Era of Climate Change. Current microbiology, 80(7), 219. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-023-03317-w </ref>. Rhizobia also has the potential to support crops under climatic condition and abiotic stresses because Rhizobium inocula are often subjected to harsh soil environment, such as drought-tolerant and heat-tolerant strains of Rhizobium <ref name= “Maitra”>Maitra, S., Praharaj, S., Brestic, M., Sahoo, R. K., Sagar, L., Shankar, T., Palai, J. B., Sahoo, U., Sairam, M., Pramanick, B., Nath, S., Venugopalan, V. K., Skalický, M., & Hossain, A. (2023). Rhizobium as Biotechnological Tools for Green Solutions: An Environment-Friendly Approach for Sustainable Crop Production in the Modern Era of Climate Change. Current microbiology, 80(7), 219. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-023-03317-w </ref>. As research on rhizobium biotechnology advances, this approach can mitigate the challenges posed by climate change, soil degradation, and improving crop production sustainably.

==References==

Lumbricus rubellus

2025-04-03T23:28:53Z

Miltonsv:

''Lumbricus rubellus'', also commonly referred to as the red [[earthworm]], redhead worm, and red wriggler, is a species of [[earthworm]]. It is referred to as this due to its reddish, brown color. Red earthworms are known as efficient composters and also tend to be a popular choice as bait for fishing.
[[File:Redhead.jpg|thumb|640px|right|Close up photo of Lumbricus rubellus on top of soil]]
==Taxonomy==
'''Kingdom:''' Animalia
'''Phylum:''' Annelida
'''Class:''' Clitellata
'''Order:''' Haplotaxida
'''Family:''' Lumbricidae
'''Genus:''' Lumbricus
==Overview==
''Lumbricus rubellus'' is a medium sized (10-15 cm) worm that is partially pigmented and epi-endogeic. The mean biomass of ''Lumbricus rubellus'' is reported to be 1.89 g.<ref name="NBII">NBII & ISSG. 2011, March 9. Lumbricus rubellus https://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=1711</ref> ''Lumbricus rubellus'' is a very important species for commerical fishing bait as it has a small size and natural scent which can be picked up by fish. Because of this small size, fisherman tend to favor ''Lumbricus rubellus'' as a bait for small fish.<ref name="Red">Red Wrigglers vs. Night Crawlers: Whats the difference? 2023, May 11. https://unclejimswormfarm.com/red-wigglers-vs-nightcrawlers-whats-the-difference</ref> ''Lumbricus rubellus'' is also a great species for breaking down organic waste. In natural and agricultural ecosystems, red earthworms provide ecological services, including improving [[soil]] [[properties]] and increasing plant production.<ref name="NBII"></ref>

[[File:Lumbri.jpg|thumb|256px|left|Photo of Lumbricus rubellus in a petri dish<ref name="Hoffmeister">Lumbricus rubellus Hoffmeister, 1843, Søborg, Denmark, 23 April 2016: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lumbricus_rubellus_%2826533505231%29.jpg</ref>]]

==Habitat==
Lumbricus rubellus is commonly found in coniferous forests. The red earthworm is native to Europe, but has since been introduced to North America. They have been seen to thrive in regions with compact, and highly moist soil. They feed on surface litter, but burrow and produce casts in the upper mineral soil layer, so they are closely in relation with [[plant roots]]. Cave-dwelling behavior has been seen in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Since they are not native to these locations, they may cause negative effects. They have the ability to disrupt the organic layer by consuming and mixing the F and H soil layers.<ref name="NBII"></ref> By doing this, they could be favoring invasive plant species, while also harming native species.

==References==
<references />

Lumbricus rubellus

2025-04-03T23:27:54Z

Miltonsv: References 2

Lumbricus rubellus

2025-04-03T23:25:23Z

Miltonsv: References 1

''Lumbricus rubellus'', also commonly referred to as the red [[earthworm]], redhead worm, and red wriggler, is a species of [[earthworm]]. It is referred to as this due to its reddish, brown color. Red earthworms are known as efficient composters and also tend to be a popular choice as bait for fishing.
[[File:Redhead.jpg|thumb|640px|right|Close up photo of Lumbricus rubellus on top of soil]]
==Taxonomy==
'''Kingdom:''' Animalia
'''Phylum:''' Annelida
'''Class:''' Clitellata
'''Order:''' Haplotaxida
'''Family:''' Lumbricidae
'''Genus:''' Lumbricus
==Overview==
''Lumbricus rubellus'' is a medium sized (10-15 cm) worm that is partially pigmented and epi-endogeic. The mean biomass of ''Lumbricus rubellus'' is reported to be 1.89 g.<ref name="NBII">NBII & ISSG. 2011, March 9. Lumbricus rubellus https://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=1711</ref> ''Lumbricus rubellus'' is a very important species for commerical fishing bait as it has a small size and natural scent which can be picked up by fish. Because of this small size, fisherman tend to favor ''Lumbricus rubellus'' as a bait for small fish. [2] ''Lumbricus rubellus'' is also a great species for breaking down organic waste. In natural and agricultural ecosystems, red earthworms provide ecological services, including improving [[soil]] [[properties]] and increasing plant production.<ref name="NBII"></ref>

[[File:Lumbri.jpg|thumb|256px|left|Photo of Lumbricus rubellus in a petri dish [3]]]

==Habitat==
Lumbricus rubellus is commonly found in coniferous forests. The red earthworm is native to Europe, but has since been introduced to North America. They have been seen to thrive in regions with compact, and highly moist soil. They feed on surface litter, but burrow and produce casts in the upper mineral soil layer, so they are closely in relation with [[plant roots]]. Cave-dwelling behavior has been seen in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Since they are not native to these locations, they may cause negative effects. They have the ability to disrupt the organic layer by consuming and mixing the F and H soil layers.<ref name="NBII"></ref> By doing this, they could be favoring invasive plant species, while also harming native species.

==References==
[1] NBII & ISSG. 2011, March 9. ''Lumbricus rubellus'' https://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=1711
[2] Red Wrigglers vs. Night Crawlers: Whats the difference? 2023, May 11. https://unclejimswormfarm.com/red-wigglers-vs-nightcrawlers-whats-the-difference
[3] Lumbricus rubellus Hoffmeister, 1843, Søborg, Denmark, 23 April 2016: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lumbricus_rubellus_%2826533505231%29.jpg

Lumbricus rubellus

2025-04-03T23:19:43Z

Miltonsv: comma

''Lumbricus rubellus'', also commonly referred to as the red [[earthworm]], redhead worm, and red wriggler, is a species of [[earthworm]]. It is referred to as this due to its reddish, brown color. Red earthworms are known as efficient composters and also tend to be a popular choice as bait for fishing.
[[File:Redhead.jpg|thumb|640px|right|Close up photo of Lumbricus rubellus on top of soil]]
==Taxonomy==
'''Kingdom:''' Animalia
'''Phylum:''' Annelida
'''Class:''' Clitellata
'''Order:''' Haplotaxida
'''Family:''' Lumbricidae
'''Genus:''' Lumbricus
==Overview==
''Lumbricus rubellus'' is a medium sized (10-15 cm) worm that is partially pigmented and epi-endogeic. The mean biomass of ''Lumbricus rubellus'' is reported to be 1.89 g. [1] ''Lumbricus rubellus'' is a very important species for commerical fishing bait as it has a small size and natural scent which can be picked up by fish. Because of this small size, fisherman tend to favor ''Lumbricus rubellus'' as a bait for small fish. [2] ''Lumbricus rubellus'' is also a great species for breaking down organic waste. In natural and agricultural ecosystems, red earthworms provide ecological services, including improving [[soil]] [[properties]] and increasing plant production. [1]

[[File:Lumbri.jpg|thumb|256px|left|Photo of Lumbricus rubellus in a petri dish [3]]]

==Habitat==
Lumbricus rubellus is commonly found in coniferous forests. The red earthworm is native to Europe, but has since been introduced to North America. They have been seen to thrive in regions with compact, and highly moist soil. They feed on surface litter, but burrow and produce casts in the upper mineral soil layer, so they are closely in relation with [[plant roots]]. Cave-dwelling behavior has been seen in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Since they are not native to these locations, they may cause negative effects. They have the ability to disrupt the organic layer by consuming and mixing the F and H soil layers. [1] By doing this, they could be favoring invasive plant species, while also harming native species.

==References==
[1] NBII & ISSG. 2011, March 9. ''Lumbricus rubellus'' https://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=1711
[2] Red Wrigglers vs. Night Crawlers: Whats the difference? 2023, May 11. https://unclejimswormfarm.com/red-wigglers-vs-nightcrawlers-whats-the-difference
[3] Lumbricus rubellus Hoffmeister, 1843, Søborg, Denmark, 23 April 2016: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lumbricus_rubellus_%2826533505231%29.jpg