red wiggler

noun

plural red wigglers

: either of two North American red worms (Eisenia fetida or E. andrei) that are typically found in decaying organic matter and that are commonly cultivated for use in vermicomposting or as bait

There are a few other worm species that can be used for vermicomposting, but the red wigglers are an excellent choice, and they are readily available. Although worms can be purchased at bait shops, you want to make sure you are truly getting the Eisenia fetida species.

—Laura Binford

Eisenia fetida is more commonly referred to as the "red wiggler." Red wiggler is … often also applied to another vermicomposting worm: Eisenia andrei. The two worms are very similar in appearance, biology, and habits.

—prairiewormworks.ca

Examples of red wiggler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is further aided by vermicompost, a natural fertilizer produced by red wiggler worms that chomp down on food waste and other organic material. —Miriam Fauzia, Discover Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024

Learn about red wigglers – feeding them, making a bin, and harvesting the castings for your garden. —Sacramento Bee, 6 Sep. 2014

Located near South Mountain, the farm breeds red wiggler worms for vermicomposting, which is the process of using worms to break down food waste into nutrient-rich soil that fertilizes plants. —Kylie Werner, The Arizona Republic, 16 June 2023

Maybe the fact that red wigglers frequent the forested soil along the banks of brookie streams? —Will Ryan, Field & Stream, 5 July 2023

Once settled in their new home, a pound of red wiggler worms (roughly 800 to 1,000 Eisenia fetida) can consume a pound of your fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells and coffee grounds each day. —Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2022

The Worm Farm's foundations are its breeding red wiggler worms and, to a lesser extent, its black soldier flies. —Megan Taros, The Arizona Republic, 16 June 2021

Conceivably, red wiggler egg casings would be deposited on assorted organic matter on the soil surface, whereas night crawler eggs would be deposited more deeply in the soil. —oregonlive, 21 Feb. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above