{"id":9862,"date":"2026-05-16T15:17:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T15:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=9862"},"modified":"2026-05-16T15:17:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T15:17:13","slug":"invasive-asian-jumping-worms-inching-across-us-to-new-york-new-jersey-and-connecticut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=9862","title":{"rendered":"Invasive Asian jumping worms inching across US to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>They can flip themselves a foot off the ground, shed their own tails and reproduce without a mate \u2014 and right now these invaders are inching their way to your backyard garden or local park.<\/p>\n<p>The Asian jumping worm has made its way from California through 38 states, including New York and New Jersey and Connecticut, according to agriculture experts.<\/p>\n<p>Known scientifically as Amynthas agrestis, these creepy crawlers arrived on ships in the early 1900s in potted plants from the Far East and have picked up a laundry list of nicknames \u2014 Alabama jumpers, Jersey wrigglers, snake worms and the oh-so-fitting \u201ccrazy worms.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The Asian Jumping worm has a white band to distinguish it from other worms in the garden. <span class=\"credit\">mdc.mo.gov<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>And they live up to the hype.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike your average garden worm, these things \u2014 which can grow to six inches \u2014 thrash, twist and literally launch themselves into the air.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>They\u2019re smooth, dark gray or brown, with a distinctive white band circling their bodies near the head. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAsian jumping worms got their name because of the way they thrash around,\u201d Mac Callaham, a USDA Forest Service researcher who specializes in soils, said in a post on the agency\u2019s website. \u201cThey can flip themselves a foot off the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And all that energy requires an endless supply of fuel \u2014 like leaf litter and mulch.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re voracious,\u201d said Callaham. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Asian Jumping Worms are an invasive species that have already affected 38 states from California to New York. <span class=\"credit\">Eric Hamilton\/UW\u0096Madison<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But the real horror is what they do underground.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike helpful earthworms that aerate and enrich soil by eating tiny pieces of fallen leaves \u2014  the litter layer \u2014 these slimy invaders are never satisfied and devour everything in sight, harming plant roots and leaving behind dirt that looks like dry coffee grounds \u2014 rendering the soil useless for growing plants.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSoil is the foundation of llife \u2014 and Asian worms change it,\u201d Callaham said.<\/p>\n<p>They also shove out native species, bulldozing their way through delicate ecosystems.<\/p>\n<p>And they don\u2019t just spread naturally \u2014 they hitchhike straight into your backyard or park.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>There are a few ways to rid your garden of the pests. <span class=\"credit\">mdc.mo.gov<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There have been reports from nurseries that this earthworm is abundant in both field and container stock. Presumably it is transported to customers\u2019 gardens in this way, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis earthworm is very invasive and considered a forest pest, although few states officially recognize it as an invasive. Part of the problem is that regulators are so focused on insect pests and invasive plants that earthworms simply fall through the cracks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And it gets worse. These invaders reproduce on their own. Even a tiny cocoon, hidden in soil or mulch, can trigger a full-blown infestation in a new location.<\/p>\n<p>Scientists are still scrambling to understand them \u2014 and there\u2019s no way to fully wipe them out yet.<\/p>\n<p>If you suspect your soil is home to the pests, avoid moving soil, compost or potted plants to another spot, thereby helping them spread. If you find them in your garden, experts say to seal them in a plastic bag and leaving it in the sun for about 10 minutes before throwing it in the trash.<\/p>\n<p>The wiggly creatures can also be drown in soapy water, vinegar or alcohol. If unsure if the worms you see in the garden are \u201ccrazy worms,\u201d refer to the NY Invasive Species Research Institute fact sheet.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe best way to prevent future invasions is to avoid moving earthworms around,\u201d said Callaham.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 728px 160px; gap:2px; width:908px; background:#eee; padding:2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u901a\u680f\u9876\u90e8\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u6a2a\u5e45 908x258 \u8de8\u6574\u884c -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; height:258px; background:#ff6b6b; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114307\" data-width=\"908\" data-height=\"258\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114307});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u7b2c\u4e8c\u901a\u680f\uff1a728\u00d790 \u901a\u680f -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; 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display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114302\" data-width=\"133\" data-height=\"139\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114302});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n    <div style=\"height:125px; background:#91e7ac; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t\r\n<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114303\" data-width=\"125\" data-height=\"125\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114303});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u7ad6\u680f\uff1a160\u00d7600 \u6574\u5217\u9ad8\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row:3\/8; height:600px;  display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114301\" data-width=\"160\" data-height=\"600\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114301});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/05\/16\/us-news\/invasive-asian-jumping-worms-inching-across-us-to-new-york-new-jersey-and-connecticut\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>They can flip themselves a foot off the ground, shed their own tails and reproduce&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9863,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[349],"tags":[4847,7253,9871,6542,1965,9869,9870,1248],"class_list":["post-9862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-asian","tag-connecticut","tag-inching","tag-invasive","tag-jersey","tag-jumping","tag-worms","tag-york"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-wsnozr0fo-1777691477949.jpg",1200,799,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-wsnozr0fo-1777691477949-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-wsnozr0fo-1777691477949-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-wsnozr0fo-1777691477949-768x511.jpg",640,426,true],"large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-wsnozr0fo-1777691477949-1024x682.jpg",640,426,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-wsnozr0fo-1777691477949.jpg",1200,799,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-wsnozr0fo-1777691477949.jpg",1200,799,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-wsnozr0fo-1777691477949-1115x715.jpg",1115,715,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-wsnozr0fo-1777691477949-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-wsnozr0fo-1777691477949-1024x682.jpg",1024,682,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-wsnozr0fo-1777691477949-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-wsnozr0fo-1777691477949-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?cat=349\" rel=\"category\">Blog<\/a>","tag_info":"Blog","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9862"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9862\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}