The Earthworms (Annelida, Clitellata, Crassiclitellata) of Illinois: Introduction and Annotated Checklist of Species
Families Acanthodrilidae, Glossoscolecidae, Komarekionidae, Lumbricidae,
Megascolecidae, and Sparganophilidae
Compiled by Mark J. Wetzel1 and John W. Reynolds2
1 MJW: Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Forbes Natural History Building, MC-652, 1816 S. Oak Street, Champaign, Illinois 61820 USA.
* E-Mail: mjwetzel{AT}illinois.edu // https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4247-0954
2 JWR: Oligochaetology Laboratory, 9-1250 Weber Street East, Kitchener, Ontario N2A 4E1 CANADA.
* E-mail: john.w.reynolds1941{AT}gmail.com // https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8362-9071
Introduction
Reynolds and Wetzel (2004) reported 161 species of earthworms representing 37 genera in 10 families known to occur in North America north of Mexico; of these, 45 are considered introduced (Reynolds and Wetzel 2004). An update of their paper (Reynolds and Wetzel, 2008) expanded their scope of North American earthworm distributions to include Mexico, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Bermuda, therein documenting the occurrence of 253 species representing 59 genera in 10 families, and increasing the number of introductions to 67.
In their second update, Reynolds and Wetzel (2012) reported 46 new state or provincial records for 27 native species, and 46 new state or provincial records for 29 introduced species. New North American records for two native species (both known only from Mexico and described as new to science in 2009), one introduced species, and new records of species from habitats in the continental U.S. were also highlighted. To summarize, 256 species of earthworms representing 59 genera in 10 families are recognized; of these 188 species are considered native to North America, while 68 are considered to have been introduced. A third update is now in preparation (est. 2023).
There are at least 14 introduced species in North America that are known only from greenhouses and other indoor cultures in one or more states from which they have been reported; however, it is important to emphasize that some of these species have also been reported in ‘nature’, particularly from habitats located in some of the more southern/warmer areas of the continent.
Reynolds and Wetzel (2011) published a paper summarizing the current status of earthworms in Illinois – including a review of published records, previously unpublished records in project reports, field notes of researchers, specimens held in the Annelida collections of the INHS and the USNM (National Museum of Natural History-Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.), and recent collections of earthworms by the authors, colleagues, and the general public. Specimens and their associated data from over 360 collections were reviewed, increasing from 52 to 79 the number of counties in Illinois from which earthworms have been reported. [An update to our first paper on earthworms of Illinois is now in preparation].
During our review of previously unidentified specimens for inclusion in our 2011 paper, three species previously unreported from the state – Aporrectodea tuberculata, Murchieona muldali, and Diplocardia gracilis – were discovered, increasing the diversity of earthworms occurring in Illinois to 38 species representing 18 genera in six families.
Collections of megadriles in Illinois by Wetzel and Reynolds in 2015 and 2016 resulted in the first report of two additional species for the state: Bimastos welchi from Nachusa Grasslands in Lee County (April 2015) – a native species, and Microscolex dubius from Pulaski County (June 2016) – a European introduction.
To date, 22 of the 42 species in Illinois are considered introductions, while 20 are considered native to North America. Four of the 22 introduced species in Illinois – Pontodrilus bermudensis, Pontoscolex corethrurus, Amynthas diffringens, and Amynthas hawayensis – have thus far been collected only from greenhouses or other indoor cultures (Reynolds and Wetzel 2004, 2008, 2011). Amynthas agrestis, another introduction to North America, is now known to occur in Illinois; the first known record of this species in the state was collected by Wetzel and Reynolds from a debris pile near Andalusia (Rock Island County) in 2013). Specimens of all Amynthas species (preferably mature individuals) need to be identified by qualified megadrile taxonomists prior to listing as occurring in any state or region. Five additional introduced species in the genus Amynthas now known to occur in North America have yet to be documented in Illinois.
Several primarily terrestrial oligochaetes (e.g., Eisenia foetida and Eiseniella tetraedra – both in the Family Lumbricidae) have occasionally been collected from aquatic habitats. Species in the Family Sparganophilidae are considered limicolous, or mud-loving, and are commonly collected from substrates and riparian margins of streams, ponds, marshes, bogs, wetlands, and occasionally from lakes and ponds. Sparganophilus tamesis (=Sparganophilus eiseni) [see Rota et al. 2016] is the most widely distributed and commonly collected species in this Nearctic family – throughout Illinois and elsewhere in North America. I addition to Sp. tamesis, Sparganophilus meansi was collected on three occasions, all in Peoria County in 2002, representing new state records, documenting Illinois as the fifth state from which this rare species has been collected. A paper now in preparation by W.K. Reeves, J.W. Reynolds, and M.J. Wetzel will summarize the distribution of Sparganophilus in North America, inclusive of the 11 extant species and two subspecies in the family Sparganophilidae.
Historical works focusing on one or more aspects of earthworms in Illinois include those by Garman (1888), the numerous studies of Smith (1895a,b, 1900, 1915, 1917, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1928), and those of Smith and Gittens (1915), and Harman (1960). More recently, Zaborski and Gittenger (2001) published a paper on worm circling in Amynthas hupeiensis (family Megascolecidae).
Pertinent references for the study of terrestrial Oligochaeta include Dindal (1990), Fend (2000, 2006), Fender (1985, 1994), Fender and McKey-Fender (1990), James (1990, 1994), Reynolds (1977a,b; 1978, 1980, 1994, 1995a,b,c; 2001, 2008a,b,c, and 2011), Reynolds and Reynolds (1992), Reynolds et al. (1974), Edwards (1998, 2004), and Reynolds and Wetzel (2004, 2008, 2011, 2012 – which include extensive bibliographies on terrestrial oligochaetes in Illinois and throughout North America].
Other annelids in Illinois
Wetzel (1992) published the first comprehensive review of aquatic Annelida in Illinois, which documented the occurrence of 130 species of aquatic microdrile oligochaetes, leeches, and branchiobdellidans (crayfish worms) representing 71 genera in 15 families for the state. Additional species have since been identified from specimens collected in Illinois; this information will be updated on other websites.
Many genera and species in the family Enchytraeidae (microdrile oligochaetes) are commonly collected from terrestrial habitats as well as from freshwater systems (streams, springs, seeps, ponds, lakes) as well as from moist and muddy (limicolous) habitats.
In addition to terrestrial megadriles (earthworms), aquatic microdrile oligochaetes, and branchiobdellidans, one semi-terrestrial leech – Haemopis terrestris (Forbes, 1890) (Hirudinida, Haemopidae) – also occurs in Illinois (see Wetzel 1992, and Wetzel, Govedich, Moser, and Klemm, 2022).
The list presented below has been compiled from records that have been published in the historical or recent scientific literature. Of note here are the species from the Walter J. Harman Terrestrial Annelida Collection, graciously donated to the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) Annelida Collection in Champaign by Dr. Harman in the late 1980s. Dr. Harman’s PhD dissertation (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1960) focused on the terrestrial oligochaetes in central Illinois. A short obituary for Dr. Harman is presented here; a more extensive obituary, including a list of Dr. Harman’s publications, was presented in Wetzel (2006: Hydrobiologia vol. 564; full citation below).
The list below also accounts for recent nomenclatural and systematic changes. Many recent works discussing the phylogeny of aquatic Annelida also have been included in the section on classification below [but this section needs updating]. References noted in the text of this document are included in the ‘Literature Cited’ section which follows the checklist of species.
Classification of and phylogenetic relationships within the Annelida
Several classifications for and discussions regarding the phylogenetic relationships within the Annelida have been proposed over the last 30+ years. The reader is directed to Jamieson (1978, 1980, 1988), Timm (1981), Brinkhurst (1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991a, 1991b, 1991c, 1992, 1994), Kasprzak (1982, 1984), Kathman and Brinkhurst (1998), Parker (1982), Holt (1986, 1989), Erséus (1987, 1990), Sawyer (1986a, 1986b, 1986c), Brinkhurst and Nemec (1987), Coates (1987, 1989), Nemec and Brinkhurst (1987), Brinkhurst and Gelder (1989), Martin et al. (2000), Gelder and Brinkhurst (2001), Purschke et al. (1993), Erséus (2005), Envall et al. (2006), Rouse and Pleijel (2007), Rousset et al. (2007, Schmelz and Timm (2008), Govedich et al. (2010), Anderson et al. (2017), Schmelz et al. (2021), Magalhães et al. (2021) and WoRMS (2023) for further discussion on the phylogenetic relationships of the annelid groups. Note that several recently published papers focus on the phylogenetic relationships of annelids; these citations will be added here soon.
Nomenclature
Nomenclature for all taxa on this page follows Reynolds and Cook (1976, 1981, 1989, 1993), and the accounts presented in the on-line second edition of the nomenclator, Nomenclatura Oligochaetologica – Editio Secunda (Reynolds and Wetzel, 2023).
Checklist of terrestrial megadrile Oligochaeta occurring in Illinois
Species preceded by ‘#‘ represent collection records from greenhouses or other indoor cultures only; they have yet to be found occurring in ‘nature’ in Illinois. Species followed by an ‘– I –‘ are considered introduced in North America.
A preliminary list of terrestrial microdrile oligochaetes in the family Enchytraeidae follows the list of megadriles (presented immediately below); several colleagues are assisting mjw in updating this list.
P H Y L U M – A N N E L I D A
CLASS CLITELLATA
Order Crassiclitellata a, b
Suborder Lumbricina
Superfamily Glossoscolecoidea
Family Komarekionidae
Aporrectodea trapezoides (Dugès, 1828) – I –
Aporrectodea tuberculata (Eisen, 1874) – I –
Aporrectodea turgida (Eisen, 1873) – I –
Bimastos gieseleri (Ude, 1895)
Bimastos heimburgeri (Smith, 1928) – type locality in Illinois [Piatt County]
Bimastos longicinctus (Smith & Gittens, 1915) – type locality in Champaign County, IL]
Bimastos parvus (Eisen, 1874)
Bimastos tumidus (Eisen, 1874)
Bimastos zeteki (Smith & Gittens, 1915) – type locality in Illinois [Champaign County]
Eisenia hortensis (Michaelsen, 1890) – I –
Lumbricus terrestris Linnaeus, 1758 – I –
Family Acanthodrilidae
[more specific locality information not included with published description]
Diplocardia conoyeri Murchie, 1961 – type locality in Illinois [St. Clair County].
Additional information presented in Stebbings (1962a, 1962b; citations below)]
Diplocardia gracilis Gates, 1943
Diplocardia ornata Gates, 1943
Diplocardia riparia Smith, 1895 – type locality in Illinois [Mason County]
Diplocardia smithi Macnab & McKey-Fender, 1955
Diplocardia verrucosa Ude, 1895
# Amynthas hawayanus (Rosa, 1891) – I –
Amynthas hupeiensis (Michaelsen, 1895) – I –
Amynthas tokioensis Beddard, 1892 – I –
(see Rota et al., 2016), the ‘type locality’ for Sp. eiseni is in Mason County, Illinois
summarize the distribution of Sparganophilus in North America, inclusive of the 11 extant
species and two subspecies in the family Sparganophilidae.
Family Enchytraeidae
Fridericia firma Smith & Welch, 1913
Fridericia oconeensis Welch, 1914
Fridericia ratzeli (Eisen, 1904)
Henlea urbanensis Welch, 1914
Henlea welchi Bell, 1942
LITERATURE CITED and PERTINENT REFERENCES
[incomplete at this time]
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Brinkhurst, R.O. 1982. Evolution in the Annelida. Can. J. Zool. 60(5): 1043-1059.
Brinkhurst, R.O. 1986. Guide to the freshwater aquatic microdrile oligochaetes of North America. Can. Spec. Publ. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 84. vi + 259 pp.
Brinkhurst, R.O. 1991a. Ancestors. Mitt. Hamburg Mus. Inst. 88(1): 97-110.
Brinkhurst, R.O. 1992. Evolutionary relationships within the Clitellata. Soil. Biol. Biochem. 24(12): 1202-1205.
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Brinkhurst, R.O., and S.R. Gelder. 2001. Annelida: Oligochaeta, including Branchiobdellidae. Pages 431-463, In: J.H. Thorp and A.P. Covich (eds). Ecology and classification of North American freshwater invertebrates. Second Edition. Academic Press, San Diego, CA [superseded by Govedich et al. 2010, citation below].
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Co-invasion of three Asian earthworms, Metaphire hilgendorfi, Amynthas agrestis and Amynthas tokioensis in the USA. Biological Invasions 20: 843–848.
Coates, K.A. 1989. Phylogeny and origins of Enchytraeidae. Hydrobiologia 180: 17-33.
Dindal, D.L., editor. 1990. Soil biology guide. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. xviii 1349 pages.
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Fend, S.V. 2010. Megadrile Oligochaeta. Pp. 149-166, In: Wetzel, M.J., S.V. Fend, K.A. Coates, R.D. Kathman, and S.R. Gelder. 2010. (full citation, below).
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Reynolds, J.W., and D.G. Cook. 1993. Nomenclatura oligochaetologica. Supplementum tertium. A catalogue of names, descriptions and type specimens of the Oligochaeta. New Brunswick Mus. Monogr. Ser. (Nat. Sci.) No. 9. vi + 33 pp. [this third supplement is available, at no charge, from the New Brunswick Museum, 277 Douglas Avenue, Saint John, NB, Canada E2K 1E5.].
Reynolds, J.W., and K.W. Reynolds. 1992. Les vers de terre (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae et Sparganophilidae) sur la rive nord du Saint-Laurent (Québec). Megadrilogica 4: 145-161.
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Suggested citation for this webpage:
Wetzel, M.J., and J.W. Reynolds. 2023. The earthworms (Annelida, Clitellata, Crassiclitellata) of Illinois: Introduction and annotated checklist of species – Families Acanthodrilidae, Glossoscolecidae, Komarekionidae, Lumbricidae, Megascolecidae, and Sparganophilidae. World Wide Web URL: https://mjwetzel.inhs.illinois.edu/research/earthworms-of-illinois/ May 2023.
Copyright 1995-2011; 2012-2023, by Mark J. Wetzel {Research Scientist, and Curator / Collections Manager of the INHS Annelida Collection
Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois USA}
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This website contains original, copyrighted material; it is being provided here as a professional courtesy, exclusively for your private, non-commercial use. Reference to or redistribution of any part of the information contained herein – whether it be through oral, printed, electronic, or other tangible medium of expression – shall acknowledge the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), The Oligochaetology Lab, and any other agency or organization noted herein for their support of this research, and shall cite this website as the source of information. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs are © M.J. Wetzel (INHS).
[page update: 06Jul2021 // 01Jan2022; 18feb, 11Jun2022; 01Jan,26Mar,19Apr,18May2023; mjw]