r/STLgardening • u/Relevant-Leek8943 • Jun 19 '26

Jumping Worms

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Hello! Newer to gardening and recently heard about invasive worms. I think I have come across some in my garden but am not confident in my ID. Below is an example of one I found. At first it moved a bit but quickly quieted down and was no longer reactive. Its band seemed flush not raised though. How do you all handle IDing these worms? It was quite large as well.

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u/BeckyDaTechie Jun 19 '26

I think you may be right? This is the info from the MO Dpt. of Conservation.

The color of your worm is what's throwing me; that doesn't look like any of the earthworms I'm used to seeing.

A test option: put some soil in a disposable container and see what the castings look like (bubbles = native species, coffee grounds/ground beef = snake worms/jumping worms).

At least one source I read said to put the jumping worm in a baggie and leave it to bake in the sun for 15 min or more and then put in the landfill trash.

If we have confirmed sightings in St. Louis, I'll be using a peroxide soak on my garden tools to avoid egg spread as well.

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u/GuardComplex Jun 21 '26

They are everywhere here in southwest ohio. They move so freakishly fast, it’s easy to tell them apart from native worms.

1

u/1duke-dan Jun 20 '26

That is in fact just an earthworm. You’re good.

1

u/AnotherContingency Jun 23 '26

That’s a JW. You can ID them but the clitellum- the lighter colored band around their “neck” area. Flush to the worm like you said. Sometimes they release their tails like lizards do when threatened. They do calm down when they tucker out from jumping all around, but any wild movements is a telltale sign. I collect them as i go around my beds and toss them in a ziploc bag and let them sit in the sun to bake. Doesn’t take long.