Ref ID : 6949
B.R. Kaushal and S.P.S. Bisht; Growth and cocoon production of Drawidia nepalensis (Oligochaeta). Biol.Fertil.Soils 14:205-212, 1992
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The biology of the vermicomposting species, Drawidia nepalensis Mich. is poorly understood. We therefore studied the growth of this species at 25 degrees C in urine-free cow and horse manure. The rate of maturation and cocoon production were studied under conditions of favourable moisture and nutrition over a period of 240 days. The results showed that D. nepalensis grew relatively slowly in comparison to other vermicomposting species, and that copulation was not a prerequisite for the production of viable cocoons, indicating that D. nepalensis may be parthenogenetic. A faster growth rate, and the production of more cocoons in cow compared with horse manure indicate that cow manure is a preferred source of food for D. nepalensis.