Land Mollusks and Worms - invasive

Crazy Snake Worm (jumping worm) (Amynthas spp.) on Aug 23, 2019

Originally reported as Land Mollusk or Worm (unknown species) (various)

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

Two Asian Jumping worms. I’m a Master Gardener in Washington County, and others at the clinic office agree with my identification. I understand there is no tracking by ODA at this time. Recommendation was to report worm discovery here.

Commentary

Thank you for your report! ODA is interested in determining which species of jumping worms are in Oregon, as there are 10 in North American commerce and only one has been identified in Oregon. If you are able to take a specimen in the future (collect in a water-tight container with isopropyl alcohol) I can tell you where to send it in to the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture.

Otherwise, there are some tips for identification and home treatments if you're interested, the resources for these tips are at https://ecommons.cornell.edu/handle/1813/103692 and https://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/sites/seagrant.oregonstate.edu/files/jumping_worm_outreach_material.pdf.

Thank you for sharing your report, this helps us understand the distribution and spread of invasive species!- Lindsey

Lindsey Wise
July 29, 2021, 8:19 a.m.

Remedy

Due to the difficulty in removing worms once established, the focus is on preventing the spread once they are established in an area. See the Jumping Worms fact sheet for Homeowners from the Jumping Worm Outreach, Research, & Management Working Group for tips.

Resources

Also called Jumping Worm, these worms are known for their erratic jumping movements when disturbed. Learn more about how to compare jumping worms with some other commonly encountered worms in Oregon, along with other facts and fun activities, from this publication: Jumping Worms: a guide to identifying a new invasive species in the Pacific Northwest

More information can also be found at: Chicago Botanical Garden crazy snake worm info.

Location

My suburban front yard, mid-day on top of stepping stone, response to vibration from sawing off a shrub trunk? Each was difficult to catch, rolling into a figure-eight sort of squirm when I touched them.

Expert Reviewer

Mrs. Lindsey Wise
Oregon Biodiversity Information Center, inr.oregonstate.edu/orbic
Oregon iMapInvasives
Institute for Natural Resources
Portland State University

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