Pontoscolex corenthrurus ( Mueller , 1857)

Nxele, Thembeka C., Mwabvu, Tarombera & Yekwayo, Inam, 2021, Earthworm species occurrence in agroecosystems in the Midlands, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, African Invertebrates 62 (2), pp. 411-425 : 411

Pontoscolex corenthrurus ( Mueller, 1857)

Type locality.

Brazil

RSA distribution

(Old material). KZN: Port Shepstone area, Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, Skyline Nature Reserve, Bluff Nature Reserve, Dlinza Forest Nature Reserve, Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. Kosi Bay, Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, Langepa Natural Heritage Site, Mbumbazi Nature Reserve, Ngoye Forest Reserve, Umfolozi Game Reserve, Mapelane Nature Reserve, Melmoth, Empangeni, Richards Bay, Empangeni, Stanger, Entumeni Nature Reserve, Eshowe, Fairfield Farm, Brooklee Farm, KwaMahleka Farm, Benhurst Farm, Harebottle, Mistyridge Farm, Rockyridge Farm, Cathedral Peak, Monks Cowl Nature Reserve, Umlalazi Nature Reserve, Gingindlovu, Ottor’s Bluff The Craig’s Farm, Pietermaritzburg area, Durban area, Tongaat, Inanda, Mt Edgecombe, Ichanga, Westville, Stamford Hill, North Park Nature Reserve, Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve, Ixopo area, Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, Amanzimtoti Mission Reserve, Adams Mission, Umzinto area, Hibberdene, Mpenjati Nature Reserve, Kasseepursad, Tugela area and Umgababa.

MP: Kruger National Park, Thalalanati, Nelspruit, White River and Graskop. LP: New Agatha, Soutpansberg Ratombo, Entabeni State Forest, Letsitele and Tzaneen area. GP: Pretoria. New material: KZN: Dalton.

Remarks.

This species occurs in numerous sites, both natural and agricultural. In natural sites, Plisko (2001) reported this species in grasslands, forests, natural bushes and near rivers. In cultivated fields, Pontoscolex corenthrurus has been collected under most crops including maize, sugar-cane, banana, avocado, citrus; some specimens were collected in pine and gum plantations, some even from vegetable gardens ( Plisko 2001). This species has been used in experiments at different institutions. Pontoscolex corenthrurus has also been collected in polluted sites in KZN ( Plisko 2001). The current collection was in sugarcane on one farm only, although we had expected to collect the species in other areas in the KZN Midlands because of its wide occurrence.