Jumping worms, also known as Amynthas species, are a type of earthworm native to East Asia that is a new invasive in Canada. Unlike the common earthworm you might find in your garden, jumping worms are a serious threat to North American green spaces and forests. Named for their thrashing and "jumping" behaviour when disturbed, these worms devour soil substrate and have no North American predators. Jumping worms rapidly change the structure of soil, causing damage to entire forest ecosystems.
Description:
Jumping worms are distinguished by their glossy, smooth bodies and their thrashing, snake-like movement. Unlike other worms, they are very aggressive in consuming organic matter.
Key Characteristics:
Color: Typically a dark purplish-grey with a milky-white band at the 14th segment from the head.
Size: Ranges from 4-20 cm, depending on species.
Movement: Notably more active, exhibit a classic snake-like thrashing motion.
Key Effects on Soil:
Jumping worms are destructive to soil and forest substrate. They consume large amounts of organic matter, breaking down leaves and mulch quickly, leading to poor soil structure and a decrease in plant health. Forests and plants are seriously harmed by their impact. This aggressive feeding cycle radically disrupts soil fertility by collapsing the natural nutrient cycling process, creating a depleted substrate with a vanished understory species where invasive species thrive.
References/Links:
The second wave of earthworm invasions in North America: biology, environmental impacts, management and control of invasive jumping worms
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02598-1
Ontario Invasive Species Awareness Program: Jumping Worms
All about Invasive Jumping Worms
https://conservationhamilton.ca/blog/all-about-invasive-jumping-worms/
