One of Upstate New York’s newest invasive species is wreaking havoc on soil and gardens this spring. The ‘Asian jumping worm’ is slowly spreading throughout the state, and there’s no good way to control the population.
So what should you do if you find one? How do you kill them? Can you use them for fishing bait?
Here’s everything you need to know about Amynthas spp., a.k.a. ‘Asian jumping worms.’
Do jumping worms actually jump?
Yes. By vigorously thrashing around these worms can propel themselves off the ground, an impressive feat for a limbless, soil-dwelling creature.
Where do jumping worms come from?
Invasive Amynthas spp. are native to Japan and the Korean Peninsula (not China). It’s believed that they first came to the United States as stowaways in the root balls of cherry trees gifted to the United States from Japan over 100 years ago.
How do jumping worms spread from place to place?
People spread jumping worms, typically by transporting horticultural materials (plants, mulch, soil) contaminated with cocoons, or by dumping earthworms used as fishing bait. Jumping worms don’t need mates to reproduce. One worm can start a local invasion.
Why am I only now hearing about jumping worms?
Worms don’t move very fast on their own. And they spend most of their lives in the dirt where we can’t see them.
How far have jumping worms spread?
Jumping worms are widespread in eastern North America, from Alabama to Maine, as well as Ontario, Canada. They’ve also been found in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and even Arizona. However, jumping worm colonies are patchy. One area might contain no jumping worms, while a nearby area might be infested with them.
Do jumping worms live in Onondaga County?
Yes. In the past three years, a Colgate University biologist found jumping worms in more than half of 42 yards surveyed in Onondaga County. Jumping worms infestations have also been recently discovered in Clark Reservation State Park and Beaver Lake Nature Center.
How big do jumping worms get?
There are three species of Amynthas spp. in New York. They range in size from 1.5-inches to 8-inches. Jumping worm cocoons are the size of poppy seeds and virtually impossible to detect in soil.
How do I tell jumping worms apart from other worms?
The key difference is behavior: jumping worms thrash around vigorously like a downed power line. No other earthworm does this. Another way to identify a jumping worm is by its clitellum, a milky white band that completely encircles its body, is flush with its skin, and is close to its head. By comparison, the clitellum on a nightcrawler is puffy, saddle-shaped, reddish-brown in color, and located closer to the middle of its body. Lastly, adult jumping worms have an iridescent sheen, and are drier to the touch (less slimy) than European earthworms.
How do I check my yard for jumping worms?
Jumping worms live in the top inch or two of soil. Use a rake, hoe, or your hand to disturb the soil surface. Check under mulch beds, leaf litter, compost piles, etc. Look for the jumping worm’s ‘soil signature,’ patches of loose dirt that resembles boiled hamburger or coffee grounds. You can also use a solution of 1/3 cup ground yellow mustard and one gallon of water. Pour the solution slowly over the soil (it won’t hurt plants). Irritated worms will come to the surface where you can identify and remove them.
How long do they live?
One year. Jumping worms in NY hatch in April/May and reach reproductive age by mid summer, laying cocoons before the first frost kills the adults. There’s concern that warming trends induced by climate change may allow jumping worms to produce two generations in one year.
Will jumping worms harm my garden?
Yes. Jumping worms transform soil structure and chemistry in ways that are harmful to many common garden plants, especially those with shallow or fine-haired root systems such as strawberries. Soil invaded by jumping worms tends to be drier and less nutrient-rich.
But aren’t earthworms good for gardens?
In general, yes. Earthworms consume organic material on the soil surface. But European earthworms (also invasive) and jumping worms process that material differently. European worms pull it deep into the soil, thus enriching it, whereas jumping worms create ‘castings,’ or poop, near the soil surface where nutrients more easily erode away. Jumping worms also change the physical structure of the soil by transforming it into something that resembles taco meat. The loose invaded soil is drier, and easily compacted or eroded, making it difficult for plants to take root.
Do jumping worms harm forests?
Yes. New York State’s forests evolved over thousands of years without earthworms. Leaf litter, the main source of food for earthworms, provides critical habitat for germinating plants, as well as fungi, insects, salamanders, shrews, and other native critters. By gobbling up the thick leafy layer of ‘duff,’ earthworms—and especially voracious jumping worms—contribute to reduced biodiversity of forest ecosystems and prevent the growth of new trees and plants, leading forests to take on a more desolate appearance.
Are jumping worms toxic?
Not to humans who touch them, or animals, such as chickens, that might eat them. However, some studies have shown that jumping worms that live in soil contaminated with high levels of heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, and lead, bioaccumulate these toxins at levels that could negatively impact the health of birds that eat them.
What if I see jumping worms?
Kill them by placing them in a plastic bag and leaving the bag in the hot sun for at least 10 minutes. Or drown them in a jar of vinegar solution or soapy water. Report jumping worms on this website or call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County at (315) 424-9485.
Can I use jumping worms for fishing bait?
No. That’s one way to spread jumping worms. Furthermore, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation classifies Amynthas spp. as a prohibited invasive species that cannot be knowingly possessed with the intent to sell, import, purchase, transport or introduce.
How do we get rid of jumping worms?
There’s no viable method to control or eliminate jumping worms now that they’re here. However, we can prevent them from spreading to new areas.
What can I do to prevent jumping worms from invading my yard?
- Don’t buy compost or mulch that hasn’t been heat-treated to 130ºF for at least three days.
- Buy bare root stock whenever possible.
- If purchasing from plant sales, wash roots over a bucket; decontaminate bucket water and garden tools with 10-percent bleach solution to kill cocoons. Solarize soil before reuse.
- Don’t buy earthworms for vermi-composting; they may be contaminated with jumping worms.
- Grow your own plants from seeds or cuttings.
- Don’t share, sell, trade, or buy potted plants without thoroughly checking them first.
- Always check for worms when transplanting—even within your own garden.
- Request landscaping companies working in your yard to clean boots, equipment, tires or anything that might transport cocoons from contaminated areas.
Further resources:
- Homeowner’s guide from Cornell University.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County
Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post-Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors.