How Do They Reproduce? Worms have a very interesting method of
reproduction. There are no male and female worms – all worms are
the same and each produce both sperm cells and egg cells. When a
worm is mature and ready to reproduce, it finds a partner worm.
They line up head to head attaching themselves together at the
clitella (the thick light colored band around each mature worm)
and mucous is secreted . The sperm cells are exchanged by the
worms through this mucous. After the worms separate, the
clitellum on each worm secretes albumin (similar to egg-whites)
which hardens to form a cocoon. The worm backs out of the
cocoon-sort of like pulling a shirt off over your head. As the
cocoon slides over the worm’s head, sperm and eggs that have
been stored in that area of the worm’s body are squeezed out
from small pores in the worm’s body into the cocoon. The cocoon
detaches from the worm. The ends close up sealing the eggs and
sperm into the cocoon. Fertilization takes place in the cocoon
and usually 2-4 baby wor