Five years ago few of us had heard of jumping worms. Now they’re all the rage, and gardeners have a panic attack every time they find a common nightcrawler.

Over the past 3 years we here at Gardens by Lynn have seen a large increase in the number of Jumping Worms we are finding in clients gardens.

Simply put, these worms can change the texture of the soil and strip the soil of nutrients and can kill plants. Sometimes plants in an entire garden can be killed. Additionally, they are easily transferred to other gardens, through not only the worm itself, but by the eggs which are undetectable.

Jumping Worm

The ring (clitellum) on a jumping worm encircles the whole body evenly and is barely raised above the skin. The distinctive marking for a jumping worm is the wide white colored band close to it’s head.

If we find jumping worms in a clients garden we will go over this with you and talk about some options regarding prevention and further spread.

Nightcrawler

Adult jumping worms are found July through early October – once you see one you’ll never forget. 

They feed on wood mulch, leaves and compost. Once that layer is gone jumping worms will feed on roots. If you notice a patch of mulch that has disappeared, you likely have an infestation; look for their “coffee-ground” castings.

First, there is no need to panic. Researchers are testing various controls – hope is on the way. If you do not have jumping worms there are things you can do to avoid getting them.

• Don’t take plants from friends. There is a chance the plant soil may contain jumping worms and/or their eggs.
• If you find these worms you should place them in a plastic sealable bag and place them in your garbage. Don’t throw them into the woods – or fish with them!
• It appears that the majority of gardens where we are finding jumping worms have added new mulch and/ or compost in the last few years. Mulch is the number one way these are brought into your garden.

So, how do you get compost that does not have jumping worms?

If you are purchasing compost or mulch for delivery, you can ask if the supplier follows the “process for further reducing pathogens” in their composting method. This process makes sure that compost reaches high temperatures (131°F or above) and involves turning compost piles on a schedule. If the facility is following that process they will likely be able to kill jumping worms and their eggs. Following this process also kills weed seeds.

Quick facts

• Jumping worms are an invasive species.
• As their name implies, they jump, wiggle and are very active.
• Typically, they are under the first few inches or soil or mulch and are usually in groups.

• Jumping worms live in the leaf litter and the top few inches of soil on the forest floor.
• They change the soil texture to appear like coffee grounds, strip the soil of nutrients and can kill plants.
• Prevention is the only known way to manage them.
  
  

Jumping worm identification:

The ring (clitellum) on a jumping worm encircles the whole body evenly and is barely raised above the skin. 

• Jumping worms can be 1-1/2 to 8 inches or more in length.

• They are similar in size to other earthworms such as nightcrawlers or some of the larger angle worms, but their clitellum (collar-like ring) and coloring are different.
• The clitellum is located 1/3 the length down the worm from the head, and it is smooth, cloudy-white and constricted, unlike the swelled saddle-like clitellum of European earthworms.
• These worms may jump and wiggle noticeably when disturbed. They can move across the ground in an “S” pattern like a snake.

The University of Minnesota has some great information available online on Jumping Worms.