Is there such a thing as a bad worm?

[judy2shoes]

I've re-posted this on Digging Around - sorry wrong forum.

Hi - newbie to most things here

My raised beds are full of worms which I know is good, but lots of them are pale, not red wrigglers. They are a similar size and thickness to normal earth worms, but a bit shorter and whitish. If they are good I'll ferry them into the PT where there doesn't seem to be as many. (the ones in the PT look like normal earthworms but not very many of them) Apart from the worms the soil in my beds looks and feels lovely.

Any advice?

[PyreneesPlot]

They sound like the ones we had in the unimproved clay.

[judy2shoes]

thanks, I was beginning to think it was a stupid question as no one was replying! I read ages ago somewhere that white worms are an indication of alkaline soil but can't find the thread. I'll keep looking.

[Verinda]

The only bad worms that I know of are those New Zealand worms that eat our worms, they are yucky flat things that don't really look anything like our earth worms. I can't exactly answer your question because I haven't come across any white worms but I'm sure they are ok.

[judy2shoes]

Yay thanks!

[alldigging]

Worms are generally happy where they are.
Unless you have just tied them to a piece of string and dipped them into the canal.

[Two_Sheds]

I read ages ago somewhere that white worms are an indication of alkaline soil

Enchytraeus albidus

...are an important member of soil life, and tend to prefer drier conditions than earthworms do.

They are most numerous when fed proteins or carbohydrates, rather than fruit & veg, which is why most people never see them in the compost heap

http://www.trjfas.org/pdf/issue_4_1/05_07.pdf