Life cycle of the oriental compost worm Perionyx excavatus (Oligochaeta)

Abstract

Mating is not a prerequisite for cocoon production, which starts at the mean age of 24 days. Maturation was attained at the age of c21 days. Cocoons were produced at a mean rate of 1.1 cocoons per worm per day. Mean incubation period of cocoons produced by batches of worms was 18.7 days with a mean hatching success of 63.4%. Mean incubation period of cocoons produced by single worms was 20.4 days with a mean hatching success of 40.4%. As a rule only one worm hatched per cocoon. -from Authors