Wisconsin Residents Need to Watch Out for Invasive Jumping Worms

Thursday, March 9th, 2023 -- 8:01 AM

(Wisconsin Ag Connection) A video featuring Bob Bruner, an exotic forest pest specialist in the Department of Entomology at Purdue University, has been uploaded to the AP Video Hub.

According to the Wisconsin Ag Connection, in the video, he explains that jumping worms are an invasive species originating from Asia, how they impact soil and what can be done to stop them from spreading. This video can be found at https://apvideohub.ap.org/welcome.

Bruner says jumping worms are larger, drier, and more scaly than regular earthworms. Jumping worms will also thrash around like a snake does. This invasive species eats valuable nutrients from the top layers of dirt and leaves behind ruined soil that has the consistency of coffee grounds.

Bruner says there are currently not many ways to remove the worms. With time, he hopes the Environmental Protection Agency and other organizations will find and recommend ways to combat the jumping worm. In the meantime, worms can be removed from soil using a process known as solarization.

Bruner emphasizes that the main way these worms spread is through human activity. He urges gardeners and farmers to be cautious when exchanging soil and potted plants, as this is how the jumping worm moves to new areas.

Jumping worms are non-native, invasive earthworms first confirmed in Wisconsin in 2013. Purdue entomologists have confirmed the worm in three southern Indiana counties (Bartholomew, Vanderburgh and Gibson), and they have been spotted in other regions in the United States.

Experts say they are likely more widespread due to human-assisted migration.

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