The Asian jumping worm and the hammerhead flatworm are two invasive worms that are causing concern for local landowners.
“A recent invasive worm from Asian countries is displacing native earthworms and European nightcrawlers,” said Kimberly Ord, Penn State Extension Master Gardener coordinator of Huntingdon County. “(The Asian jumping worm can be identified by its) clitellum (band) that encompasses the entire circumference of the worm and is milky white to light gray, and is flush with the body. The native and European worms have a raised clitellum and are reddish-brown in color.”
The Asian jumping worm gets its name from how it reacts to touch. The worm flings around giving them a jumping appearance, said Ord.
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“Homeowners can tell if they have jumping worms when the worm jumps when touched and the soil is uniform and granulr (resembling coffee grounds),” said Ord. “(The invasion of the jumping worm causes) degradation of the soil. They consume the organic matter that plants depend on to thrive. The nutrients, rapidly released by the worms’ castings, prevent the plants from using them.”
Eliminating the worms (and their cocoons) is essential to the soil’s health over time.
“To deal with the worms, homeowners should handpick and destroy the adults,” said Ord. “Get rid of them by bagging them up and disposing of them in the trash. For those underground, adding biochar or diatomaceous earth to the soil can bring them to the surface.”
Cocoons are extremely sensitive to heat, making solarization an essential step for their removal.
“The cocoons can only be destroyed by solarizing the soil,” said Ord. “(Landowners and/or homeowners should) moisten the affected soil, cover it with clear plastic, and leave it alone for two or three weeks. The temperature under the plastic film during this time should reach 104degrees (Fahrenheit) for at least three days.”
Homeowners can prevent jumping worm infestations by reducing the amount of organic matter introduced to the soil, according to Ord. This is possible by buying soil and mulch from a supplier that treats them with heat. When adding plants to the garden, the soil should be rinsed from the roots before planting to prevent cocoons from transferring into the soil.
The hammerhead flatworm is not a worm, like the jumping worm, but has a worm-like appearance. The hammerhead worm is a predatory species that feeds on earthworms and other annelid worms. As a result, they just might aid in the eradication of the Asian jumping worm.
“Terrestrial flatworms can be yellow or orange with dark stripes or dark brown or black in color,” said Ord. “The head is pointed, half-moon or crescent-shaped, giving the appearance of a hammerhead. Up to four species are native, while others were introduced in Pennsylvania.”
Certain types of hammerhead flatworms can b harmful to the local population. They eat mollusks (snails, slugs and isopods) and native earthworms that add helpful nutrients to the soil, aiding in plant growth, according to Ord.
Getting rid of hammerhead flatworms isn’t easy, but it is necessary to preserve the population of the helpful mollusks and worms.
“Flatworms can be killed by placing them in alcohol or in a bag placed in the freezer,” said Ord. “Salt can also be used to kill the hammerhead, but salt shouldn’t be used near a plant as that can harm the vegetation.”
The flatworms shouldn’t be cut up in the soil because each piece will become a new worm, warned Ord. The worms can reproduce through a process called binary fission. They can regrow the missing portion of their body in about a week.
“Because their mucous can affect some people, anyone handling the worms should wear gloves and then wash their hands thoroughly afterwards,” said Ord.
Some flatworms are chemically-defensive and can irritate the mouth and eyes.
“Any flatworms found inside newly purchased pots or planters should be preserved in ethanol (alcohol),” said Ord. “They should then be submitted to the state Department of Agriculture for testing.”
These invasive species can cause issues in the local soil ecosystem. Removing them should be a top priority to preserve healthy dirt and promote the healthy growth of vegetation.
