What size shape color are earthworm eggs?

Answer 1

I’ve been researching this question myself today. It appears that any cluster of eggs found in the soil is more likely slug or snail eggs. Earthworm eggs are laid in capsules, each of which may contain up to 20 individual eggs. The best description of an earthworm egg capsule that I’ve found is that it is yellowish green, slightly larger than a grain of rice, and resembling a very small currant—and occurring singly in the soil, rather than in clusters (although each capsule may contain many eggs). I found that information in the following passage, which also describes the production of the capsules, copied from this site: http://journeytoforever.org/farm_library/oliver/oliver1a.html "During the act of coitus, each worm exchanges male sperm, impregnating, or, at least, theoretically impregnating, their female ovas. Also during the act, there is an increased flow of the fluid which keeps the entire length of the worm's body moist. This fluid forms the capsule in which the eggs are deposited, and is, therefore, heavier and thickens rapidly.

 "When the hymeneal act is completed and the earthworms separate, this fluid forms an outer band. The new band or shield begins to move forward, eventually dropping from the earthworm's "head."

 "During the forward movement of the gelatine-like band, the impregnated eggs are held firmly within it. As it drops off the earthworm it closes into a yellowish-green pellet or capsule, slightly larger than a grain of rice. This capsule resembles, to a remarkable degree, a very small currant.

 "Earthworm capsules examined under a powerful microscope show a lack of uniformity in the number of cells. There will be, however, from three to fifteen fertile eggs in a capsule.

 "Earthworm eggs hatch in about twenty-one days. The newborn appear as short bits of whitish thread about one-quarter of an inch in length. In from twelve to forty-eight hours they become darker but are visible to the untrained eye only after a painstaking search for them."