Eisenia Malm, 1877

Plisko, Jadwiga Danuta, 2010, Megadrile earthworm taxa introduced to South African soils (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae, Eudrilidae, Glossoscolecidae, Lumbricidae, Megascolecidae, Ocnerodrilidae), African Invertebrates 51 (2), pp. 289-289 : 300

Genus Eisenia Malm, 1877

Eisenia andrei ( Bouché, 1972: 381)

Selected from batches of Eisenia fetida , identity confirmed by DNA. Widely distributed all over the world, usually occurring with fetida in vermicomposting heaps, composts, and decaying organic matter. Being externally and anatomically similar to fetida , and usually occurring together with it, andrei is often not recognized and separated, but is recorded as fetida . It is possible that in composting hips and vermiculture farms in the RSA this species also occurs with fetida . A sample imported from France containing fetida and andrei was studied under laboratory and field experiments for biology and reproductive abilities by Reinecke et al. (1991). The material housed and recorded in the NMSAD under E. fetida may include andrei . DNA study is necessary to separate these two species, and this has not yet been applied to the material in the NMSA collection. Easton (1983) placed it in synonymy with E. fetida . Blakemore (2004 a) supported andrei arbitrarily, in selection of specific or sub-specific status.

Eisenia fetida ( Savigny, 1826: 182)

Described from Paris, France. Widely distributed over the world for variable reasons. In RSA known from composting hips, vermicomposting farms, nurseries, around barns and from rich decaying organic matter. Reported by Ljungström (1972) from Pietersburg (LP); Heidelberg and Roodeport (GP); and Cape Town, Cape Flats and Bergvliet (WC). Zicsi (1998) reported its occurrence in Durban, Stamford Hill (KZN). In the NMSAD recorded at 27 sites in GP, NW, KZN, EC and WC. Synantropic. Found once with Aporrectodea longa .

This species reproduces abundantly under favourable conditions, being the most profitable earthworm species for vermicomposting. Commonly used for fishing, vermiculture and protein production, and as an indicator in polluted habitats. Undergoing worldwide variable experimental study, fetida also aroused interest in this country. Various experiments were and are being conducted by vermiculture producers at universities and agriculture institutions, and the members of the Earthworm Interest Group in South Africa, with an extended literature on the use of this taxon. From the number of published notes, only a few are cited: Venter & Reinecke (1987); Reinecke et al. (1990, 1991); Reinecke et al. (1992); Reinecke & Alberts (1994); Maleri et al. (2008).