Ref ID : 6031
S.A. Viljoen, A.J. Reinecke, and L. Hartman; The influence of temperature on the life-cycle of Dendrobaena veneta (Oligochaeta). Soil Biol.Biochem. 24(12):1341-1344, 1992
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The life-cycle of Dendrobaena veneta was studied at 15 degrees C (characteristic of the animal's natural habitat) and at 25 degrees C (at which the life-cycles of other vermicomposting species have been studied in Southern Africa). At 15 degrees C the life-cycle was completed in 100 days and it took 150 days to complete the cycle at 25 degrees C. At 25 degrees C maturation was quicker, worms started to produce cocoons at a younger age, and more cocoons were produced worm-1 day-1 than at 15 degrees C. The incubation period of cocoons was also shorter at the higher temperature. The hatching success was, however, higher and the number of hatchlings per cocoon were more at the lower temperature.