All earthworms are hermaphroditic, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs in a single individual. When two individuals meet, hermaphroditism makes two exchanges of sperm possible instead of one. Both earthworms inseminate and after this process the eggs are produced. This process takes approximately 24 hours. Mating usually takes place when the ground is wet after rain. Most commonly, earthworms protrude from the anterior end and mate with another earthworm in an adjacent or emergent burrow and travel to the soil surface before mating. Depending on the species of earthworm, the particular segments are where eggs and sperm are produced. The female and male sexual openings are found near the clitellum. When the earthworms have finished mating, they separate, but the eggs have not yet been fertilized, they are still in the earthworm's sperm receptacles. The egg-laying process begins when the glandular cells of the clitellum secrete a second mucous ring that slides forward over the body of the worm. When this ring passes over the opening of the oviducts, it receives a quantity of albuminous eggs and several mature eggs. As the ring passes the sperm receptacles closer to the anterior end, it receives sperm that have recently been deposited there. Then, fertilization of the eggs takes place in the mucosal ring. The ring containing the fertilized eggs slides past the anterior tip of the worm and closes at each end to form a sealed capsule. This is called an “egg cocoon”. “Egg cocoons” are deposited in the soil and the fertilized eggs develop directly into young earthworms. These “egg cocoons” can produce up to 20 worms and they are so small that it is easy to miscount them. They escape middle of paper......excess calcium obtained in food. The food is then transported to the crop, a storage organ, and then to the muscular gizzard. While the food is in the muscular gizzard, the food is carefully ground using very small stones that the worm has swallowed. After this process, the food is digested by the juices secreted by the gland cells of the intestine. Finally, it is absorbed by the blood vessels in the intestinal wall and then distributed throughout the rest of the body. Thanks to this process, the earth consumed by the worms is deposited on the surface of the soil, in the form of “castings”. '. Castings are a type of mold, and the burrows the earthworm leaves behind help aerate the soil. By aerating the soil, it improves drainage and increases its water retention capacity. Thus, the soil is “cultivated” by being ground in the worm’s gizzard..