Invasive 'Jumping Worms' Spotted In California As Warnings Spread Across States

Agriculture experts in California and several other states are warning of an invasive pest known for the damage it causes to soil.

The Asian jumping worm—known also as the "crazy worm" or "snake worm"—has been found in states across the Midwest as well as other regions.

And on Tuesday, the Colorado Department of Agriculture issued an invasive pest alert, noting the harmful impact the worms can have on soil and plants and reminding residents everywhere to be on the lookout for them.

It was most recently confirmed in California in Humboldt County in 2023, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. It was also detected in Sonoma County in 2023, and Napa County in 2021.

Patch reached out to CDFA and the Invasive Species Council of California for more information.

“The jumping worms’ hyper-activity degrades the soil structure, can harm plant roots and accelerate soil drying," CDA said in a release. "This creates a ‘nutrient-poor paradox’ where nutrients are present but unavailable to plants...."

The worms are described as long and red-to-brown in color. They "thrash and move erratically with a violent, snake-like motion when disturbed."

They can reach up to 6 inches in length, and their bodies may appear metallic. They are much more active than typical earthworms and can be found on the soil surface and in leaf litter.

A telltale sign of their presence is "very uniform, granular" soil texture created from their feces left on the surface soil. They can also reproduce without mating, allowing them to spread quickly.

Complete eradication isn't possible, but there are some preventative measures to take:

• Avoid moving soil, compost or potted plants from yards if infestation is suspected.
• Inspect all potted plants and soil before moving, sharing or bringing them into gardens, and consider buying bare-root stock.
• When purchasing bulk mulch or compost, confirm it has been heat-treated to at least 130°F for three days to kill the cocoons.

The worm has also been found in Michigan, Minnesota, Maine, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio, Florida, New Jersey, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, and New Hampshire, WGN reports.

SEE ALSO:

• Voracious Jumping Worms That Leap A Foot Found In California
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