Jumping worms are harmful to our garden and the environment.
They originated in Asia. They can be spread by the sharing of plants with eggs in the soil by home gardeners and commercial nurseries. They can also be transferred by equipment, garden tools, shoes, mulch, etc.
Jumping worms consume the organics in the upper part of the soil. This removes any nutrients and erodes the soil. Their castings look more like evenly spread coffee grounds. They do not aerate the soil because they stay at the surface. They do not drag organic materials such as leaf litter down into their burrows providing deeper nutrients.
Jumping worms wiggle madly, even “jumping” out of your hand. They look like other worms, but the collar, called the Clitellum, is close to the head, white, and not raised above the rest of the body. Jumping worms reproduce quickly and can form dense populations. They overwinter as egg cocoons and hatch out when the weather is favorable.
Wash the roots of plants you get from friends. Strain the water and put the remaining soil in a trash bag in the sun for several days before disposing of it. Purchase bare-root plants if possible. Purchase mulch and soil free of eggs and worms.
You can check for jumping worms by mixing 1 gallon of water with ⅓ cup of ground yellow mustard seed. Pour it slowly into the soil. When the worms rise to the surface, you can check whether they are jumping worms.
For more information on jumping worms, see the factsheet on CCE Oneida County’s website at https://cceoneida.com/environment/invasive-nuisance-species/invasive-pests/jumping-worm. If you see jumping worms on your property, report them on the app iMapInvasives.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County answers home and garden questions which can be emailed to homeandgarden@cornell.edu or call 315-736-3394, press 1 and ext. 333. Leave your question, name and phone number. Questions are answered on weekdays, 8am to 4pm. Also, visit our website at http://cceoneida.com/ or phone 315-736-3394, press 1 and then ext.100.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Gardening column: What are jumping worms and how do you get rid of them?
Reporting by Patrica Miller / Observer-Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
