USDA officials are warning people in Kansas and Missouri about a new type of pest. They say this summer you might notice a new type of worm in your garden. Jumping worms, an invasive species from Asia, have recently been found in Kansas and other states throughout the Midwest. The worm has a gluttonous appetite that depletes the soil of nutrients. They also crowd out and replace beneficial earthworms. They aren’t going to literally jump out of your garden at you, but they get their name from the way they thrash around. They are more firm and less slimy than other earthworms, with a white band around their bodies.
To slow the spread of the worm, Department of Conservation officials suggest reducing transportation of soil or mulch and not using the worms as fish bait. Because they’re relatively new to the Midwest, researchers are still waiting to see how they affect gardens, farms and forests.
