Knowledgebase

jumping worms #889412

Asked November 06, 2024, 8:49 AM EST

In past April, my friend gave me a young prunus mume plant from her garden.  In early July, she told me that she discovered jumping worm problem in her garden and I might have the problem as well from the soil came with her plant.  I used the tea seed meal she gave me and didn't see any worms surfaced back in July.  But now in early November, suddenly about 30 tiny and skinny jumping worms appeared after I poured the tea seed meal solutions.

Please give me information/instructions to control/eliminate this jumping problem.  Thanks.

Montgomery County Maryland

Expert Response

A pour test (usually done with mustard...we are not familiar with that alternative) can make any earthworm come to the surface as they need more oxygen or as their skin is irritated by the substance poured into the soil. They won't necessarily be jumping worms just because they came up to the surface in response to the pour. Plus, jumping worms are adults now, if they haven't died off already after having laid eggs, so small young worms are not likely to be jumping worms. It can be difficult to ID worms with certainty, especially when they are juveniles. That said, most (or all) worms in Maryland are non-native, even if they are not jumping worms in particular. There isn't a way to get rid of them once they are present, nor would any chemical used to attempt to do so impact only those worms, as it might harm other soil organisms in the process. You can find more information on the linked Invasive Jumping Worms web page.

Miri

Loading ...