EARTHWORMS ARE HERMAPHRODITES

This means each worm has both the male and the female reproductive organs.

Q. So how do they reproduce?

Have a close look at an adult worm. You will see a whitish band of slime called " the saddle." This contains the eggs.

When the eggs in the egg tube are ready, the worm slips backwards out of the saddle. As the saddle passes the egg tube, six eggs are dropped in.

As the saddle passes over the worm's head, the ends close up and make a tiny lemon-shaped cocoon with the eggs inside.

This cocoon protects them until they hatch out as very small but fully developed worms.

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