When the worms seperate, a ring of mucus material forms at the clitellum of each worm. The worm will then wriggle backwards, and the mucus ring slips off over the head. All the necessary reproductive material is sealed inside. The worm capsule, when first deposited is soft and milky white. This quickly hardens and turns a light lemon colour.
Capsules are almost ready to hatch when they are the rusty colour.
The capsule is about the size of a grape seed, but size is related to the size of the worm, with larger worms producing larger capsules. Capsules generally take an average of 1 month to hatch - but depending on conditions, can take more or less. Worm capsules have been known to survive drought conditions for 12 months or more, hatching when conditions become suitable again. They can even survive the digestive systems of birds and animals. Each capsule can produce up to 20 baby worms, but the average is about 4.