Facts About The Giant Canadian Nightcrawler
Canadian night crawlers are one of the largest insects generally available. They are sometimes called "dew bugs" because they are sometimes found outdoors in the early morning when morning dew is still on the ground and surrounding plants. Their scientific name is Lumbricus terrestris. Other names include "lobeworm" or simply "night crawler". Despite the name, the Canadian night crawler is believed to have originated in Europe.
They are not ideal for vermicomposting. These are more solitary insects than the red wobbler, yuru, African night crawlers, and even blue moths.
Measuring
Canadian night crawlers are large. Larger than most other insects you will come into contact with. The image below is over 7 inches tall. They are as long as African nocturnal reptiles but thicker. They dwarf the European night crawler in both thickness and length. They are longer and thicker than both the red zigzag and the blue Indian moth.
Learn about the characteristics of the Canadian night crawler
In addition to their size, these insects have many other characteristics that will help you identify them.
Canadian night crawlers are:
About as thick as a pencil
About 6-8 inches in length
There is a clearly raised clitoris.
Head round
Lure towards the tail
The tail is spade-like
Dark purple on the head
Get a lighter color towards the tail.
Environment
Canadian night crawlers like it very cold. They live in soil around 60 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. They can be kept in crates if the environment can be kept cool enough, but their environment requires a lot of decomposing plant matter, such as leaves and lawn clippers. They do not decompose food waste like other composting insects.
I am currently trying to find out if Canadian night crawlers can survive the Florida temperatures at all. If I see any success, I will provide another official test. During the summer, temperatures will reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit, which will definitely push the soil over 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Like most insect species, Canadian night crawlers should be kept out of direct sunlight. They need some moisture to help with oxygen exchange, but too much water isn't good either. As a rule, if there is stagnant water in the bowl, then you have too much fluid. Adding dry debris or bedding will help absorb excess water.
Movement
Canadian night crawlers move rather slowly. They move like red crows and European night crawlers. They usually move in a wave-like pattern, extending the front of their body, and then pulling the rest of their body forward. It differs from the Alabama players and Indian blue worms.
Can You Make Vermicompost With Canadian Night Crawlers?
In short, not really. Even while you may raise a healthy population of Canadian nightcrawlers to serve as bait, they don't attract composting insects.
Unconscious Canadians night crawl. This means that they make deep burrows, and only emerge to eat decomposing plant matter. Then they retreat to their vertical burrows. Compost-forming insects are usually sequential, meaning they live in and around the surface of the soil, and will sometimes use the same burrow, but will move around and become more frequent. Because of the epigenetic behavior of insects, they are easier to feed.
Vermicomposts, commonly known as castings, tend to gravitate towards the bottom of the container. Fresh bedding and food can be added to the top, as epigenetic insects will migrate to feed on the decomposing food.
Where to buy Canadian night crawler
The most likely place to source Canadian nightcrawlers is a bait and deal store. I was able to purchase 12 night crawlers for $4.50.
Because of their size, Canadian night crawlers make excellent bait for fly fishing. It is much easier to hook than African and European night crawlers. They are almost too large for many small hooks, which makes them an attractive target for fish.
Canadian nightcrawlers are very large insects with a pronounced clitoris and a flat, spade-shaped tail. If you keep Canadian nightcrawlers cold and make sure they have plenty of greenery to stay wet, you can maintain a colony of them. However, they do not make the best fertilizer due to their turbid nature.
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