Invasive Jumping Worms Spreading Across US, Including In NY

Long Island, NY — Asian jumping worms, an invasive, soil nutrient-gobbling earthworm that can leap a foot in the air, are moving rapidly across the country, with sightings in 38 states, including New York.

Asian jumping worms — their scientific name is Amynthas agrestis — have earned their nickname and their reputation. They're also called Alabama jumpers, Jersey wrigglers, wood eel, crazy worms, snake worms, and crazy snake worms.

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The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County shared facts about the worm on its site, including that these worms reproduce easily, and the best time to see them in New York is late June and early July.

"The jumping worms alter the structure and chemistry of the soil dramatically, leaving a distinctive grainy soil full of worm castings, and they can damage lawns, landscapes and even the forest understory habitat."

They have recently been spotted as far west as California and Colorado. According to data from EDDMapS, an online mapping service, other states reporting sightings include:

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

South and Southeast: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee

West and Mountain West: California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington.

These invasive worms have a history of popping up in New York year after year, including in 2025, Pix11 reported. New York Upstate gives tips on how to identify and get rid of them after reporting sightings in 2022.

The jumping worm's common names are descriptive of "the way they thrash around," USDA Forest Service soil scientist Mac Callaham said in a post on the agency's website. "They can flip themselves a foot off the ground."

Harmless earthworms aerate the soil and help prep it for growth, but once jumping worms have had their way in your dirt, it will have the consistency of coffee grounds and be about as useful for growing anything but frustration. Jumping worms also elbow other species out of the way, according to experts.

Jumping worm populations grow quickly through a couple of generations a season. Like other worms, they're hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs, but with a distinction: Jumping worms reproduce on their own.

Jumping worms expend a lot of energy, which they fuel by eating everything in their path. That includes leaf litter, the first layer of soil on the forest floor, home not only to many unseen tiny creatures but also an important source of nutrients that plants need to sprout and grow.

Scientists say they need to learn more about the ecology of jumping worms before prescribing a management plan.

Jumping worms vary from red to brown in color. They can grow up to 6 inches in length, and their bodies may appear metallic. There’s no way to completely eradicate them, experts say, but some steps to control their spread include:

• 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 degrees Fahrenheit for three days to kill the cocoons.
• If you find them in your garden, seal them in a plastic bag and leave it in the sun for about 10 minutes before throwing it in the trash, or drown them in soapy water, vinegar, or alcohol for about 20 minutes.