Beware of jumping worms

MCHENRY COUNTY – As weather conditions continue to improve, more and more residents are eager to begin yard projects, just in time for a new growing season. While digging around in the dirt, it’s not uncommon to have a run in with all kinds of underground dwelling critters, including the common earthworm.

However, gardeners should take caution with an invasive species of worm “wriggling across the Midwest,” according to a University of Illinois Extension program press release. The worms are known by many names including Alabama jumpers, crazy worms or snake worms, but around these areas, are more commonly referred to as jumping worms.

Having first been discovered in Illinois in 2015, these worms, native to East Asia, are given their name based on their unique, thrashing movements, almost resembling that of a slithering snake. Jumping worms have been identified in at least 23 counties across Illinois, including McHenry and Kane Counties.

“In the past, we’d hear from gardeners concerned with spreading or bringing home fungal or viral diseases, but now the top concern is jumping worms,” said Richard Hentschel, a horticulture educator with the University of Illinois Extension.

According to Hentschel, jumping worms are often found in leaf litter or mulch layers, or in the top three to four inches of soil in wooded areas, garden beds and lawns. The reason why these pests are considered a threat to local ecosystems is due to the fact that once they are established, jumping worms can damage plant roots, lawns or ornamental gardens.

Chris Evans, an Illinois Extension forestry research specialist, states that the worms are voracious eaters that decrease soil quality and reduce organic matter.

“As the worms feed, they alter the soil by increasing aggregate size, creating larger clumps with more space in between. This is caused by their castings making up a higher and higher percentage of the soil,” Evans said.

Soil infected with jumping worms begins to take the appearance of coffee grounds, according to the press release. The worm’s microscopic eggs can also survive Illinois winters, which may lead to gardeners not knowing they have an infestation on their hands, and unknowingly help spread the worms.

“This is not a ‘sound the alarm and panic’ situation, but it is one to keep an eye out for and know about,” Evans said. “Jumping worms do not disperse very fast on their own. It is human-aided spread that can be an issue.”

The University of Illinois Extension program suggests gardeners can help reduce the spread of jumping worms by using heat-treated commercial compost or mulch. Individuals should also ensure to clean off any gardening equipment and shoes, especially if working at multiple garden sites. The Extension program also advises against sharing home compost, mulch or plants.

“Dividing perennial plants is a good gardening practice,” Hentschel said. “However, sharing those perennials with neighbors or donating them to plant sales may not be the best thing to do now.”

If residents do intend on transplanting plants within the same yard, Evans suggests to remove soil and wash plant roots to prevent spreading jumping worm eggs. Evans states that it is still safe to purchase plants from garden centers or catalogs, or those that are started from seeds and grown in pots.

For those uncertain of what to look for when trying to identify these invasive worms, they are described as being larger than other earthworms, being about four to eight inches long, with a glossy skin and a more rigid, stiff structure.

Like other earthworms, they may be seen on pavement and sidewalks after a heavy rain.

Hentschel explained that the main identifying feature to a jumping worm, is its clitellum or band, which is smooth, not raised, and completely circles the body. The jumping worm’s clitellum is described as often being milky white in color and begins at segment 14 of the worm’s body, earlier than other species of worms.

“If you have jumping worms, these mitigation efforts are needed, along with fertilization and mulching to maintain organic matter for plant health. Realistically, it is going to be hard to get rid of an active population until research provides better practices to manage them,” Evans said.

Hentschel assures the public that they should not abandon their yard project for fear of jumping worms.

“Just keep an extra eye out for jumping worms, and stay safe by keeping your plants, mulch, and compost in your own yard,” he said.

For those wanting to test if their soil has a jumping worm infestation, the Extension program states to mix one gallon of water with a 1/3 cup of ground yellow mustard seed. Follow that by clearing a bare batch of soil and pouring the solution over the area. This will irritate the worms and will drive them to the surface. Residents can simply destroy the worms by placing them in a plastic bag in the sun for 10 minutes.

See Richard Hentschel handling the worms in the video below.