r/composting • u/Open_Reach_9561 • 1d ago

Asian jumping Worms

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Found these Asian jumping worms in my compost. Never seen them in my yard before. They slither like a snake and jump when touched. Is it common for them to get into compost?

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u/Signal_Error_8027 1d ago

They go wherever there is high organic content, and their cocoons can be in leaf litter...which can survive over winter. So yes, they can get into compost if you have them in your area. They are a bag and dispose on sight species.

What's most frustrating is that the most surefire way to get rid of them (solarization) would likely also kill off other beneficial microbes in your compost. But after seeing what they've done in my vegetable garden soil, it may be best to solarize your compost, and replace good microbes later. As their population grew, it became harder and harder to germinate direct sown seeds. They seem to have limited impact on larger seedlings that are transplanted. At least so far...

https://extension.psu.edu/look-out-for-jumping-earthworms

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u/WastingTimesOnReddit 1d ago

What country or state are you in? Good to keep info going when people find these. I'm in Denver and they were recently spotted here for the first time in a fancy neighborhood, might have come with the soil of some imported fancy bush or something.

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u/Open_Reach_9561 21h ago

In Texas in a suburb near Houston

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u/KoA07 1d ago

The neon green looks almost like those green worms bred for fishing (they might be fed something to make them green, so maybe this one has gotten most of it out of their system)

Got any fishermen nearby?

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u/Open_Reach_9561 21h ago

This one had that green sheen but not all of them. But when looking at others they had the flat band but smoother than other worms. There were some earthworms but the move different not as fast or type of movement. you know they different when you actually see them. Seen a lot of post asking but you will know especially if you other worms near it.

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u/JaeMilz 1d ago

They have been in my compost and on my property for at least three years now. In my area (WI) they are now everywhere so I have stopped any feeble attempts at control. However, I do think their impact for the home gardener is overstated. I spent a lot of time and effort trying to eradicate them the first year but never really saw any adverse impacts to be honest.

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u/Open_Reach_9561 20h ago

Thanks for the balanced view. Trying to see if worth trying to get them all