Earthworms of North Dakota

Information provided by:: Rodney A. Utter B.S., Soil Science Department,; Edward J. Deibert Ph.D., Soil Science Department,; Donald P. Schwert Ph.D., Geosciences Department,; North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58105.

Legend: Information is based on surveys of 266 sites in North Dakota. A spade was used for hand sampling of specimens in the top 30 cm of soil, and also under rocks and fallen logs. All samples were kept cool until identified, using the external morphology of sexually mature earthworms for identification, according to keys by Schwert (1990) and Reynolds (1977). Filled map squares, for each species, indicate that earthworms were found at the site; empty map squares indicate that no earthworms were found.

Disclaimer: Maps are based on data provided by the contributors.

Aggregate Map

Species Maps:: Aporrectodea caliginosa; Aporrectodea tuberculata; Aporrectodea trapezoides; Dendrobaena octaedra; Dendrobaena rubida; Eisenia rosea; Eiseniella tetraedra; Lumbricus rubellus; Lumbricus terrestris; Octolasion tytraeum

Earthworm Diagram

Species Photos:: Aporrectodea sp.; Lumbricus and Octolasion sp.; Dendrobaena, Eisenia, and Eiseniella sp.; Main ND Species; Earthworm Coccoon

Areas Where North Dakota Earthworm (Lumbricidae) Species Are Found

List of Earthworm Publications (1991-2003)

This resource is based on the following sources:

Reynolds, J. W. 1977. The Earthworms (Lumbricidae and Sparganophilidae) of Ontario. Royal Ontario Museum Miscellaneous Publication. Toronto, Ontario. 141pp.

Schwert, Donald P. 1990. Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae. Pages 341-356 in D. L. Dindal ed. Soil Biology Guide. John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY.

Utter, Rodney A., Edward J. Deibert, and Donald P. Schwert. 1995. Survey of North Dakota earthworms (Lumbricidae). Proceedings of the North Dakota Academy of Science 49:48.

This resource should be cited as:

Utter, Rodney A., Edward J. Deibert, and Donald P. Schwert. 1995. Earthworms of North Dakota. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/inverts/wormsnd/wormsnd.htm (Version 12MAY03).

Descriptions of new records or mature unknown samples with legal description (Section, Township, Range) of collection point in North Dakota may be sent to:

     Rodney Utter
     701-231-7561 (Telephone)
     701-231-7861 (Fax)
     Rodney.Utter@ndsu.nodak.edu (Email)

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wormsnd.zip (264K) -- Earthworms of North Dakota

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