Garden worms/compost bin worms...

[Miljea]

Are they the same species?

compost bin worms are the red ones - they are also used for fishing.

They are not the same species and I believe their diets are rather different. The compost bin worms are around the garden generally though, and will turn up at the compost bin (or anywhere else where rotting garden waste is lying for any length of time) - I know you can buy them but I've never found a need for that.

Thanks! The compost bin ones are rather redder than my garden ones. I wasn't sure if that was an adaptation due to habitat, or a different species.

I maybe need to buy some garden worms, not just cast my compost dwellers to the soil...

If you could add some rotted manure as a mulch, the earthworms should come to your garden. We have heavy clay and for the last couple of years have added the rotted manure and we have loads of worms. The blackbirds are working non-stop to steal them all now...

The little stripy red ones in your compost are brandling worms, which are not the same species as common earthworms. It’s amazing how they turn up when you start a compost bin!

As a pp said, feed your worms, then they will prosper! They will be there, but if the soil is not rich in organic matter, numbers will be lower. Also they will be staying deep down atvthe moment as it's so dry (unless you've been lucky enough to have rain!)

Brandling worms are Eisenia foetida, "garden" worms are from the genus Lumbricus. They breed very fast, so the few cocoons you start with in a matter of a few weeks (40-60 days from juvenile to breeding adult) have turned into worms you can pick up by the handful like so much wiggly spaghetti.