WHAT DO WORMS EAT?
The term “worms” includes different types of animals that have a single common characteristic, the elongated shape of their body, yet they are not related to each other. Within the worms, we have three groups, the Flatworms (flatworms), the nematodes (cylindrical worms), and the Annelids (ringed worms.
The body texture of the worms is soft and they lack limbs. Its displacement is done through crawling. To date, approximately 7,000 species of worms are known, the best known being the earthworm. Worms are considered to be primitive animals, as they have been found in hot springs where the temperature is high. These habitats simulate the primitive atmosphere of the earth.
The worms are considered invertebrates without body protection, their size varies from 1mm to 50 meters long, some show luminescence. Within their behavior, the worms spend most of the time looking for food, like the earthworm have receptors in their skin that serve as a guide in the soil.
Worms are poikilothermic (they do not regulate their internal temperature, they adopt that of the environment where they live), therefore if it is very cold or hot they dig deep into the earth to cope with temperatures.
WHERE DO WORMS LIVE?
Worms are found in every type of habitat, it is literally in every type of habitat. They can be found in the digestive tract of an insect or mammal. In the ocean, in rainforests, and even in bodies of fresh water.
Flatworms (flatworms) are almost all parasites, that is, they live inside a host and feed on it. Annelids (cylindrical worms) have both free and parasitic life. While annelids (ringworms) are associated with marine life.
WHAT DO WORMS EAT?
Since worms have a wide variety of environments in which they can live, it is logical to think that they have had to develop different strategies to feed themselves. Finding parasites, predators, herbivores, detritivores, filter feeders, and those who can apply any of the aforementioned feeding strategies.
Flatworms (flatworms) are almost all parasites, that is, they live inside a host and feed on it. Annelids (cylindrical worms) have both free and parasitic life. While annelids (ringworms) are associated with marine life.
Within the menu of worms are bacteria, fungi, protists, decomposing organic waste. And in some cases, they can feed directly on the nutrients dissolved in the water.
A worm of great importance for farmers is the earthworm since after it ingests the earth and extracts the nutrients it requires, it adds urea to later expel them, an activity that enriches the earth aerates it, and ventilates it. At present, several species of worms are raised and then used in the recycling of organic matter, obtaining high-quality humus for agriculture.
The worms are used as a source of protein in several coveted exotic dishes.
