Composting With Worms

Part 3: Commonly asked questions

Introduction

Part 1:
Worm box basics

Part 2:
Worm box management

Part 3:
Commonly asked questions

More worm composting information

Composting coffee grounds

Stewardship gardening links
outside WSU

Can a worm see?

No worms don't have eyes. However, they are very sensitive to light, and they try to hide as soon as they are exposed to light.

Where is the worm's mouth?

The worm's mouth is in the first anterior segment. There is a small protruding lip just over the mouth. When the worm is foraging this lip will be stretching out for sensing food.

Does a worm have teeth?

Worms have no teeth for chewing their food. They grind their food in their gizzard by muscle action.

How does a worm grind his food?

Worms can only take a small particle of soft moistened food in their mouth. Worms have a muscular gizzard. Small parts of food mixed with some grinding material such as sand, topsoil, or limestone is ingested. The contractions from the muscles in the gizzard compress those particles against each other, mix it with fluid, and -rind it to smaller pieces.

Do worms need air?

Worms need gaseous oxygen from the air. The oxygen diffuses across the moist tissue of their skin, from the region of greater concentration of oxygen (air) to that of lower concentration (inside the worm). A constant supply of fresh air is needed by the worms.

How to use worm compost?

Worm compost can be used like any other compost. Sterilizing is not necessary.

More worm composting information

More information about this topic is available through your local WSU Extension Office