Jumping Worm

Have you seen an abundance of worms in your garden? If so, look to see if they resemble the worm in the photo above. The clitellum or collar goes all the way around the body and is smooth. The worms are very active and have a sheen to them. Look for worm castings around your garden.

The jumping worms alter the structure and chemistry of the soil dramatically, leaving a distinctive grainy soil full of worm castings, and they can damage lawns, landscapes and even the forest understory habitat. People unknowingly spread these worm by using them for bait or transport their egg cocoons on shoes and wheels, in mulch, or via transplanted plants.

Jumping worms reproduce easily. They are asexual (parthenogenetic) and mature in just 60 days, so each year they can have two hatches. The best time to see them is late June and early July. From September until the first hard frost, their population will double and may reach damaging levels.

Research is being done on controlling these worms but nothing has come back with favorable results. What you can try to do is contain their spread by recognizing the worms when you are working in your garden. Don’t transplant mulch, soil or plants to uncontaminated areas. Plant bare root stock or seeds when possible. Do not buy Amynthas worms for composting, vermicomposting, gardening or bait. If you already have these worms, remove and dispose of them by solarizing them or soaking them in isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Do not put them in the compost pile or garden.

Text above from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties

Resources:

Jumping Worms - What's bugging you?

Asian Jumping Worms: A Homeowner's Guide

New York Invasive Species Research Institute

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Species Spotlight

University of Wisconsin-Madison -Jumping Worms

Look Out For Jumping Earth Worms

Jumping Worm ID Guide from Minnesota Extension

University of Maryland- Invasive Jumping Worms

Invasive Earthworms in the Northeast from The University of Vermont, Plant & Soil Science Department

Last updated January 29, 2024

Invasive Pests

Check Potted Plants!

Potted plants can harbor dangerous fugitives. Test with a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can check for miscreants.

Another test is to turn the pot upside-down and gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. If only young crazy worms are present, or very few, damage might not be evident.

In The Garden

In this 2 minute video, University of Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel talks about a newer invasive species, the jumping worm.

F.A.Q.

The Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment at University of Massachusetts Amherst has compiled an extensive list of "Invasive Jumping Worm Frequently Asked Questions" including questions on identification; biology; ecological impacts; bioaccumulation of heavy metals; climate change & jumping worms; mulch, soil, compost & plant sales; biological control; chemical & physical management; and more.