You can see that this is a mature worm because of the well developed clitellum – a swollen gland that secretes fluid for building a cocoon for the eggs. As this litter-dwelling worm spends some of its time in the open, its body is darkly pigmented for protection against ultraviolet light.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Soil Bugs – An Illustrated Guide to New Zealand Soil Invertebrates
Photograph by Alastair Robertson and Maria Minor
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.
Tāpiritia te tākupu hou