Jumping worms

(Amynthas agrestis)

Jumping worms, known also as Asian jumping worms, crazy worms, Alabama jumpers and snake worms, are invasive earthworms first found in Wisconsin in 2013. Native to eastern Asia, they present challenges to homeowners, gardeners and forest managers. Jumping worms get their name from their behavior. When handled, they violently thrash, spring into the air and can even shed their tails to escape.

This website will help you learn about jumping worms and their effects on yards, gardens and forests, what you can do to prevent their spread and what to do if they’re already on your property.

What jumping worms look like

• Smooth, glossy dark gray/brown color
• Clitellum*, the lighter colored band, is cloudy-white to gray; completely encircles the body. Its surface is flush with rest of body
• Bodies are firm and not coated in “slime”
• Snake-like movement
• They tend to occur in large numbers; Where there’s one, there are always more

*The clitellum is a band of glandular tissue composed that partially or fully encircles the worm’s body.

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