Close-up of worms from Asia are giving the whole US a 'headache'

Recently, a harmful worm species native to Asia is spreading across the United States, causing a lot of trouble for the people of this country.

In the spring of this year, many news reports recorded the unusual appearance of 'hopping worms' (a species of the genus Amynthas) in areas such as Maine, Missouri and California in the United States.

Jumping worms are similar in appearance to earthworms, but have a paler genital belt and are closer to the head. They live in the top layer of soil a few centimeters thick and range in length from 3 to 22 centimeters. This species is called the 'jumping worm' because it has a quick and jerky way of moving.

Alien worms are invading the US with a strange way of moving

If earthworms are considered beneficial to the soil, jumping worms are the worry of farmers. Jumping worms take nutrients from the soil to feed their bodies, leaving the soil infertile and prone to erosion. In addition, they also threaten the growth and development of earthworms, making this species endangered.

Although the jumpworm's dense growth is a threat, scientists say the species does not cause major damage to the US agricultural industry.

Experts point out that gardens and fields are not ideal locations for jumping worms. The reason is that this worm cannot dig deeper into the ground to avoid heat like earthworms and is prone to drying out if it encounters high temperatures (from 30 degrees Celsius or more). This means that as jumping worms continue to spread across the United States, they will gradually congregate in cooler and more shady areas like forests, rather than in fields.

'The main damage they can do is in the forests. As jumping worms live on cooler hillsides and forest floors, the top layer of soil is more susceptible to erosion," said Lee Frelich, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Forest Ecology.

Shady forests are ideal areas for jumping worms to thrive.

Frelich said that earlier this May, just a light rain washed away the top layer of soil more than 5cm thick in his university nursery. This may be due to the invasion of jumping worms.

Frelich explains: 'Soil erosion is a threat to forest ecosystems in hilly areas. In addition, worms wriggling in the soil will displace the seeds, preventing them from germinating and taking root. Even if the seed has already developed into a seedling, the appearance of the jumping worm will entail the development of worm-eating animals such as wild turkeys. This species has a habit of uprooting trees to pick up worms, which in the long run will reduce the amount of green trees."

Jumping worms can only travel a few tens of meters in a year and are mainly spread through organic mulch on the ground. This means that urban areas using garden mulch are prime targets for jumping worms at this time, not wild areas. With human behavior, however, the worms could expand their range in the US and reach even more ecosystems.

Frelich explains: 'Many people have a hobby of fishing and often use jumping worms as bait. This inadvertently gives the worms the opportunity to breed in remote areas and forests.'

Jumping worms normally hatch in the spring, but in some states like Wisconsin, many people report seeing continued reproduction of the species this winter, when temperatures tend to be higher than in other parts of the country. five.

The United States Department of Agriculture warns that if jumping worms continue to multiply in large numbers, many plant species could disappear.

In the face of the widespread occurrence of jumping worms, Bernie Williams, a crop pest expert with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, has suggested a number of measures to help people prevent and eliminate this pest.

According to Williams, worms are a relatively easy species to kill. They breathe thanks to their wet skin, losing moisture on the skin means death. Therefore, we just need to leave them on the cement or brick floor in sunlight, the worms will die in a few minutes. Besides, insecticides are also an option if the number of worms is too large.

Jumping worms are easy to multiply but also very easy to kill.

'If you suspect jumping worms in your garden or find the soil clumps like coffee grounds, you can scoop up a shovel of soil, put it in a bucket and fill it with water. Wait for a few hours, if there are worm cocoons jumping, they will come to the surface,' added Williams.

Unlike earthworm cocoons, which are yellow and visible to the naked eye, jumping worm cocoons are more subtle and almost invisible in the soil. When we look closer, we will see that they are shaped like broken black pearls.

Frelich recommends that people avoid accidentally moving the worms. To prevent the spread of cocoons, wash your garden tools, shoes, and tires regularly. When buying organic mulch, people should choose mulch and compost that has been heated above 40 degrees Celsius to eliminate jumping worm cocoons. With the cooperation of the community, the development of jumping worms will be quickly suppressed.