Sooooo… I don’t know about you all, but in the past few years I have often found myself thinking something along the lines of “Can’t we have just one nice month where nothing horrible goes wrong?”
Unfortunately, the answer this month is, “No, now you have Jumping Worms!”
Goodness gracious, Iowa.
Suffice it to say, I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news about a new menace here in our fair state.
I have found this article by the Iowa State Horticulture Extension Office does a really great job describing Jumping Worms, teaching us how to identify them, and making recommendations on how to collect and kill them (hint: add a couple of ziplock bags to your gardening tote). If you are interested in LOTS of nerdy information about the history of worms in the USA (spoiler: earthworms are not native to Iowa!), I recommend checking out this article from The Atlantic. Unfortunately, the only control for this invasive species is to stay vigilant and to collect and kill the creatures when we find them.
While Jumping Worms are especially problematic to forests and gardeners, these worms can impact the overall health of all plants, including grasses. Specifically, these worms are capable of stripping the top soil profile’s ability to hold moisture and nutrients, disrupting local ecosystems for native critters.
Like with so many invasive species, the first goal is to not get them. Here are a few tips to help us slow the invasion.
Do not discard live fishing worms into the ecosystem, especially if you are unsure if they are Jumping Worms or not.
Don’t purchase vermiculture worms without knowing exactly what they are and how you will kill them when you need to cull your squirm (I was today years old when I learned a group of worms is called a squirm!).
Purchase soil and compost from trusted local sources who heat composted products to a minimum of 104 degrees F to kill off eggs and organisms that can be easily moved in these products. One researcher from the University of Minnesota recommends sifting compost or soil through a sieve that would catch peppercorns - doing this should help to capture eggs prior to hatching.
Clean tools and machinery thoroughly before moving to a new project or property
Inspect any parts of your lawn, garden, or local parks that are suddenly looking barren or stressed for signs of the worms (such as the telltale “coffee grounds” soil remnants).
Collect and kill any Jumping Worms you find
Should you find Jumping Worms on your private (or any public property) notify the Iowa State Extension Outreach office so they can document the occurrence and help to coordinate any future efforts being taken by state officials to slow the spread.
As we learn more from experts like Dr. Donald Lewis from Iowa State and other trusted sources, we will be happy to pass along any tips or suggestions. In the meantime, stay vigilant, fellow Iowans! The best defense is a good offense. Keep those ziplock bags handy and know that I will be collecting those slimy invaders with you in the coming years!