GROWTH AND COCOON PRODUCTION BY THE EARTHWORM DRAWIDA-NEPALENSIS (OLIGOCHAETA, MONILIGASTRIDAE) IN OAK AND PINE LITTER

Quantitative observations on the biology of D. nepalensis were made at 25 degrees C in oak and pine litter over a period of 180 days. The st udy revealed that copulation is not a prerequisite for production of v iable cocoons, indicating that D. nepalensis may be parthenogenetic. A higher growth rate in pine litter (10.8 mg and 6.0 mg adult(-1) day(- 1) raised singly and in batches, respectively) than in oak litter (10. 6 mg and 5.5 mg adult(-1) day(-1) raised singly and in batches, respec tively); and production of more cocoons in pine litter (1.0 and 0.5 co coons adult(-1) day(-1) raised singly and in batches, respectively) th an in oak litter (0.8 and 0.5 cocoons adult(-1) day(-1) raised singly and in batches, respectively) indicate a slightly better suitability o f pine litter than oak litter for the development of D. nepalensis.