Land Mollusks and Worms - invasive

Crazy Snake Worm (jumping worm) (Amynthas spp.) on Jan 12, 2020

Submitter has sample

Description of specimen

Medium size worm that is longer and thinner than a regular wiggler. The mouth of the worm has a very unusual shape and movement. The reproductive band is recessessed

Commentary

None

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

Landscape on the east side of sidewalk is an established lawn and bark on west side. This finding was after a very a heavy rain for the past 12 hours.

Last month I found another worm that was identical, exiting the lawn, and thrashing across the sidewalk. Interesting, the sidewalk was really wet and the lawn sprinklers were on.

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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