Lumbricus terrestris was the first earthworm described by Carl Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae (1758). It is a large, multisegmented annelid that typically ranges from 8 to 15 cm in length (occasionally up to 35 cm) (Blakemore, 2012). The earthworm L. terrestris is an anecic species, meaning that it lives in deep vertical burrows of 2 m and generally only emerges to feed on surface litter. Because of this characteristic burrowing, anecic species such as L. terrestris are associated with the mixing of soil horizons in the areas that they invade (Postma-Blaauw et al., 2006). When feeding, this earthworm prefers fresh litter rather than accumulated organic matter in the upper soil horizon (Hale et al., 2005). L. terrestris can inhabit all soil types except coarse sands, bare rock, and acidic peat (Sphagnum). It has been found to be constrained by the-15 °C isotherm. It tolerates soils with pH values as low as 3.5-3.7 and as high as about 8, normally in alkaline soils of pH 6.2-10.0. L. terrestris is not frost-tolerant, indicating that it hibernates in deep soil layers during the winter (Tiunov et al., 2006; Wironen and Moore, 2006). Although the species prefer grasslands, pastures orchards, and deciduous forests, being especially abundant in clay and often present in agricultural fields, it fares poorly due to herbicides, mechanical damage, and lack of leaf litter (Frelich et al., 2006; Blakemore, 2012, 2014). L. terrestris is a reciprocally mating simultaneous hermaphrodite, which reproduces sexually with individuals mutually exchanging sperm. It leaves its burrow to copulate on the soil surface. The lifespan of L. terrestris is approximately 5-9 years in culture (Satchell, 1967; Lakhani and Satchell, 1970; Edwards and Bohlen, 1996) and probably less in the field. Sexual reproductivity is usually reached within 1 year (Evans and Guild, 1948; Wilcke, 1952; Satchell, 1967), but the duration of the prereproductive phase is strongly influenced by environmental factors (Lee, 1985). Adult and immature earthworms can be distinguished by the development of a clitellum when reaching sexual reproductivity. L. terrestris grows rapidly for approximately 3 years, with short seasonal pauses in midsummer and midwinter, and reaches an average weight of approximately 9.5-11 g in culture and 5-6.25 g in field populations (Satchell, 1967; Lakhani and Satchell, 1970). After 3 years, the average weight of the earthworms begins to decrease. Often
