May I introduce you to one of the most important inhabitants on the island of Mallorca, in fact, one of the most important creatures anywhere in the world: the Common Earthworm, or Lob worm (Latin: Lumbricus terrestris, Catalan: Cuc de terra, Castellano: Lombriz de tierra).

Earthworms play a major role in the agricultural environment because they are involved in many soil processes such as soil turnover, aeration and drainage, and the breakdown and incorporation of organic matter. Without the busy labour of the wriggly creatures, there would be hardly any life in our gardens or farms, plants and trees would find it difficult to survive, and the ecological balance of nature and in agriculture would be jeopardized.

Good old Charles Darwin was fascinated by earthworms. In his treatise on worms in 1881, he commented ‘It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world as have these lowly organized creatures’. The Greek philosopher Aristotle also realized the importance of earthworms, calling them ‘the intestines of the earth‘.

If you see an earthworm in your garden, greet him like a friend.

The photo was taken near Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: March 27th, 2010. The time was 12:32:18.