Asian crazy snake worm

[mahniah]

Apparently this earthworm is now in most Eastern states, and has made it's way to many other states. They don't look like the earthworms we love, and they stay very near the top of the soil. The name is because they move like a snake, sort of "S" like. I think I read not to put websites here, but a search will show many websites with lots of info. I learned about it in an email from my extension service. Before that I thought I just had a lot of worms, how nice. But now that I know more about it, it seems possible that eventually I won't be able to grow anything in my yard. Very scary. I'm wondering if anyone else had noticed these guys. Or if it's already being discussed here, though I couldn't find it in a search.

[puzzlejunky]

I did google and it seems gardeners were using them in their gardens as beneficial.. the damage is done when they spread to forests. They'll eat your wood mulch..but not your plants. Unless I found a different worm?

You can post links..just not Spammy ones

[mahniah]

Thanks for checking this out and the reply puzzlejunky. Although they started in the forests, they're now in home gardens in many states and eventually cause the same damage. That's just what they do. They don't eat the plants, but they do change the soil, which is worse. It's thought that often home gardeners see them and don't realize it's not the worm they know and love. Here are a few sites telling more about them.

https://www.wpr.org/new-invasive-worm-co ... ecosystems
"While home gardeners usually think of earthworms as good for garden aeration, crazy worms can cause damage to lawns and ornamental plantings. Unlike other earthworms, the crazy worm will burrow up out of the soil and into nursery plantings."

https://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/late ... heast.html

https://www.harringtonsorganic.com/wp-co ... 0-4-11.pdf

https://www.theday.com/article/20140221/ENT07/302219984