Earthworms usually mate and lay eggs several times each year, but produce relatively few offspring per year, perhaps only 10-15 for each adult worm. It may take the tiny worms up to a year to reach full size and sexual maturity. How long an earthworm can live in the wild isn't certain, but researchers estimate a normal lifespan of about 3 years. They feed by swallowing organic matter or bits of soil containing organic matter. Presumably this helps them to keep their tunnels clean and open.
Earthworms also act as food for a wide variety of soil predators.
For animals that weren't originally found in Southern California, worms now occupy a very important slot in the food web.