Spotted in Warren County! Asian Jumping Worm скачать в хорошем качестве

Spotted in Warren County! Asian Jumping Worm

Host: Joanna Coles, Warren County Extension Agent for Agriculture & Natural Resources Dr. Jonathan Larson, Extension Entomology Specialist Topic: Asian Jumping Worm As their name implies, they jump, wiggle and are very active. Jumping worms live in the leaf litter and the top few inches of soil on the forest floor. They change the soil texture to appear like coffee grounds, strip the soil of nutrients and can kill plants. Prevention is the only known way to manage them. Jumping worms should be disposed of in the garbage. Do not release them into the environment. Jumping worms (Amynthas spp.) are an invasive species native to eastern Asia. Jumping worms contribute to major forest ecosystem disturbances and are also troublesome for homeowners and gardeners. They negatively impact soil structure and reduce plant growth. Earthworms, including jumping worms, are ecosystem engineers. They change soil characteristics, which contributes to a number of other ecosystem shifts that may reduce crop and forest productivity, and reduce forest biodiversity. Like all earthworms, preventing their introduction and reducing their spread are the only two proven forms of management. Jumping worms can be 1-1/2 to 8 inches or more in length. They are similar in size to other earthworms, such as nightcrawlers or some of the larger angleworms, but their clitellum (collar-like ring) and coloring are different. The clitellum is located 1/3 the length down the worm from the head, and it is smooth, cloudy-white and constricted, unlike the swelled saddle-like clitellum of European earthworms. These worms may jump and wiggle noticeably when disturbed. They can move across the ground in an “S” pattern like a snake. Read the complete publication here: https://extension.umn.edu/identify-in...