Well, they're not murder hornets, but we have our latest invasive species and agriculture officials are warning they're bad news for yards and ecosystems. The Colorado Department of Agriculture has issued an invasive pest alert for the Asian jumping worm, an aggressive earthworm species first confirmed in Denver late last year and already documented in California and at least 18 other states, reports KTLA. Unlike typical earthworms, which help aerate soil and recycle nutrients, these worms churn soil into a dry, grainy material that officials say weakens soil structure, damages plant roots, speeds drying, and leaves nutrients locked away from plants. That "nutrient-poor paradox," the agency warns, can intensify drought stress.
The worm is also known as the "crazy worm" or "snake worm," notes Fox 21. Authorities say there is currently no reliable way to wipe out established populations, so the focus is on slowing the spread. Homeowners are urged not to move soil, compost, or potted plants off their property if they suspect the worms are present; to closely inspect plants and soil before sharing or transplanting them; and to consider purchasing bare-root plants instead. Buyers of bulk mulch or compost are advised to confirm it has been heated to at least 130 degrees for three days, a level that can kill the worms' cocoons. Asian jumping worms—so named because they thrash violently when disturbed—have been detected across a wide swath of the country, including California, the Midwest, the South, and parts of the Northeast.
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