Colorado Department of Agriculture Issues Alert on Invasive Asian Jumping Worms
Gardening season is arriving much earlier than usual this year, and the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) wants to alert residents about a new aggressive, invasive species found in Colorado. Last October, the CDA confirmed the presence of the Asian jumping worm in the Hilltop neighborhood of Denver.
The worms are an annual species, but their cocoons (about the size of a mustard seed) survive the winter and are easily spread in soil, mulch and on equipment. The CDA is encouraging vigilance to prevent the spread of this invasive pest. Since there are currently no effective eradication methods for this pest, the CDA is launching a public education campaign to emphasize prevention and prompt reporting to slow the spread of this pest.
The CDA is asking nurseries, landscaping contractors and landowners to be on the lookout for any signs of the invasive jumping worms and report any suspected sightings.
“Preventing any spread of the jumping worm in Colorado is critical to protecting our state’s healthy soil and native plants,” said Wondirad Gebru, director of the Plants Division at the CDA. “Since there are no effective eradication methods, we are asking gardeners and landscapers to be vigilant, inspect their materials and report any possible sightings to our agency.”
Even as many earthworms are beneficial to the soil, adding nutrients for plants and helping with soil aeration, the jumping worm poses a significant ecological and economic threat. It lives on the soil surface, rapidly consuming organic matter and leaf litter, which strips the soil of the critical layer needed to support native plants, wildflowers and forest ecosystems. The jumping worms’ hyperactivity degrades the soil structure, can harm plant roots and accelerate soil drying.