ONLINE: Jumping Worms: The Impacts of a New Soil Invader

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UW-Madison Arboretum

The invasive "jumping worm" (genus Amynthas).

Anyone who took a walk outside this past Sunday morning is certainly familiar with earthworms, which were seemingly everywhere on the streets and sidewalks after the rain. There's a new variant being found in Wisconsin that has proven quite destructive: jumping worms. Though smaller than the familiar nightcrawler found in Wisconsin, their effect on the soil is far more harmful; as they chew through decomposing vegetation and soil, they leave behind pellet-like, crumbly matter that is also devoid of nutrients needed by plant life. Learn how to help slow the spread of these invaders during this free webinar by UW Arboretum ecologist Brad Herrick; register here for the Zoom link. Also: The Arboretum will be conducting a public survey of the impact of the worms on plants this summer; sign up here to participate.

media release: Earthworms are found in a variety of habitats, from our backyard gardens to native forests. However, a new group of non-native, invasive earthworms collectively referred to as jumping worms, are moving into Wisconsin with potentially destructive consequences. We will discuss the impact of jumping worms in gardens, the latest research on their ecology and biology, how to tell them apart from other species of earthworms and what we can do to slow their spread.

Join us for this free webinar with Brad Herrick, ecologist and research program manager at the UW-Madison Arboretum.

Hosted by Julie Hill, Horticulture Outreach Specialist, UW-Madison, Division of Extension. 

The program is free, but registration is required. Please complete your information here to register. An email with connection information will be sent to you the day before the event.

Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2021, 12:00-1:00 p.m. (CST), Zoom Webinar

*** You will be sent a connection link to the webinar on April 20. Please check your spam folder if you don't receive it.

Questions about the webinar can be directed to: Julie Hill, julie.hill@wisc.edu