Beetle Bob: Good Morning, Wolfgang. Nice to meet you. Aren’t you a famous composer?
Earthworm Wolfgang: Hello. No, I am a decomposer, like yourself. Say, weren’t you a member of that famous rock band in the 60’s?
Beetle Bob: No, I wish I were though. They spell their name with an “a.” I’m a regular here too. How do you like their menu?
Earthworm Wolfgang: The food here is really rotten. My friends and I give it 5 Stars! We especially like to order the banana peel on toast, apple cores and shredded lettuce. How about yourself?
Beetle Bob: I’m partial to the coffee grounds and egg shells for dessert. Friends of mine love to munch on specials they have like woods chips and leaves, especially now that fall is here.
Earthworm Wolfgang: Yes, I love this time of year since it’s still warm. I need to burrow down today and give my setae some exercise. They’re like tiny bristles that help us earthworms get around. We create lots of tunnels underground which helps water flow and aerate the soil. And our slimy skin helps us wiggle through the dirt. At least you beetles have legs, don’t you?
Beetle Bob: Yes, beetles have 6 legs. We’re pretty lucky that way. I’m hoping some of the microbial decomposers like fungi, bacteria and protozoans get going. Those fellows work hard too and generate the heat we need to break down a lot of organic material in the compost.
Earthworm Wolfgang: Beetles are lucky. You have eyes and ears. We earthworms have no ears and no real eyes, just cells that detect light. We prefer the dark and shy away from light. If we dry up, we die. Did you know there are over 1800 species of earthworms?
Beetle Bob: I had no idea. That’s amazing. We all do our share churning up this soil, moving the earth around. People don’t realize how hard we work while they’re asleep.
Earthworm Wolfgang: Right and even when they’re awake, walking around on top of us, we’re busy. Thanks to the strong muscles in our mouths, we can munch on leaves, banana peels, apple skins, corn cobs and a host of scraps people feed us. Then our alimentary canal detoxifies the materials and out come our castings (also called worm poop!) That’s the black gold used by gardeners and farmers. Castings are rich in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, along with small amounts of iron, calcium, copper and magnesium.
Beetle Bob: Wow, that sure is a magical combination you are producing! And the best part is all the compost doesn’t go into landfills and increase the gas they call methane. It’s harmful to the environment.
Earthworm Wolfgang: Absolutely! I think the humans are finally catching on. That famous guy Charles Darwin was a wormologist and studied us earthworms for over 40 years.
Beetle Bob: I’ve heard of Darwin. He wrote about evolution, but I had no idea he was into worms! Amazing. So I hope we can connect here again. I hear their Sunday brunch menu is very appetizing. Look forward to seeing you Wolfgang.
Earthworm Wolfgang: My pleasure, Bob. I’ll definitely see you here again soon. Here’s to us Movers and Shakers!