Eisenia fetida ( Savigny, 1826 )

Lehmitz, Ricarda, Römbke, Jörg, Jänsch, Stephan, Krück, Stefanie, Beylich, Anneke & Graefe, Ulfert, 2014, Checklist of earthworms (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) from Germany, Zootaxa 3866 (2), pp. 221-245 : 231

Eisenia fetida ( Savigny, 1826)

Enterion fetidum Savigny, 1826: 182.

Lumbricus semifasciatus Burmeister, 1835: 3 .

Lumbricus olidus Hoffmeister, 1842: 25 .

Allolobophora foetida: Michaelsen 1890: 10 .

Eisenia foetida: Malm 1877: 45 ; Michaelsen 1900a: 475; Michaelsen 1903: 178; Wilcke 1949: 175; Zuck 1951: 129; Graff 1953b: 26.

Eisenia nordenskiöldi caucasica Michaelsen, 1902: 28 .

Helodrilus (Eisenia) foetidus: Michaelsen 1913: 551 .

Eisenia fetida: Bouché 1972: 381 ; Easton 1983: 480; Sims & Gerard 1999: 80; Csuzdi & Zicsi 2003: 143; Blakemore 2008: 38.

Ecology. Distribution and ecology of the species are not clear, because most authors do not differentiate between E. fetida and E. andrei . Without differentiation, the species are classified as epigeic and synanthropic occuring only in dung piles, compost heaps, market gardens and also in forests ( Wilcke 1939, Zuck 1951, Füller 1953, Graff 1954). Suitable for vermicomposting ( Csuzdi & Zicsi 2003).

Zoogeographical distribution type. Without differentiation, the species are classified as peregrine species with Palaearctic origin, now distributed over Europe, North- and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia ( Csuzdi & Zicsi 2003).

Distribution in Germany. Without differentiation, the species are reported from central Germany ( Pieper 1969); northern Germany ( Michaelsen 1890; Graff 1950); southern Germany ( Zuck 1951; Skambracks 1996); eastern Germany ( Wilcke 1939; Füller 1953; Bösener 1965). Römbke et al. (2000) and Römbke (2009) differentiated between the two species. They only found E. fetida and reported it from central Germany (Römbke et al. 2000, Römbke 2009), northern, southern, eastern and western Germany (Römbke et al. 2000).