2 new papers can help avoid spread of invasive earthworms

AMHERST, Mass. — The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Extension Office has recently published two new fact sheets to help those who are concerned about the spread of invasive earthworms.

They go by many names: jumping worms, crazy worms, snake worms and Alabama jumpers. These common names refer to earthworms in the genus Amynthas, which are native to Asia. Unlike species such as the common nightcrawler, these jumping worms may have different — and possibly detrimental impacts — on the environment. They are being increasingly reported in gardens, lawns, farms and forests across the Commonwealth.

Jumping worms alter soil qualities, particularly in forested locations, and may even trigger changes that favor invasive plants in forest understories. Some of the most significant impacts of these earthworms have been seen in forest ecosystems. The worms have such an impact because they consume the upper organic layer of soil, which leaches away nutrients and can lead to erosion. Unwittingly, humans may spread earthworms without realizing it: jumping worm eggs (which are found in cocoons that are about the size of a mustard seed) or adults may be unwittingly transported when one moves soil, mulch, compost and potted plants from one location to another. 

Two new UMass Extension fact sheets answer questions about prevention and spread as well as the biology and identification of these earthworms, and the available options, should you discover these worms on your property. The fact sheets are available here:

• Earthworms in Massachusetts – History, Concerns, and Benefits
• Jumping/Crazy/Snake Worms – Amynthas spp.