Experts need your help tracking jumping worms spreading across Illinois

CHICAGO – When you see one of many invasive leaping worms which might be spreading throughout Illinois proper now, don’t panic.

As an alternative, get to your pc as rapidly as you may. Scientists want your assist to trace the slimy pests which might be making their method into gardens.

Chris Evans, Forestry Extension & Analysis Specialist on the College of Ilinois informed WGN Information Now the current rains will probably make the leaping worms come out much more.

He added that in contrast to earthworms, leaping worms are bigger – 8 to 12 inches – and have a white band.

The invasive species suck the vitamins out of soil leaving it unable to maintain vegetation or timber, plus they will flip one foot into the air and thrash round like a snake!

“We predict they have been an unintentional introduction that …they have been simply introduced over as a contaminant with soil or different vegetation. It wasn’t essentially an intentional introduction. Although they’re used now for fish bait and for vermiculture. ” stated Evans.

When you ought to see a leaping worm or suppose you might have them in your yard or backyard, Evans requested that you just snap a photograph and report it to the College of Illinois Extension to assist them monitor the worms.

At present, leaping worms have been detected in additional than 40 Illinois counties together with Cook dinner, DuPage, Kane, McHenry, and Will counties.

There are some preventative measures you may take to guard your backyard. “The large danger is sharing vegetation with different land homeowners and so the grime that’s within the plant, even for those who can’t see a worm, it might probably have the cocoons that are little egg sacs that they shed.” stated Evans. “They’re microscopic. And so simply watch out once you’re doing that. Wash the roots of vegetation or don’t share mulch or compost round. That’s actually one of the best ways to keep away from getting them.”

However for those who do see them in your backyard or in your property, Evans stated “Don’t panic! It’s not the tip of the world.” He stated you may nonetheless develop issues in your backyard, however you might have to make a number of modifications similar to including extra fertilizer or extra water.

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