Asian jumping worms??

Discussion in 'Fruit and Veg Gardening' started by Cayuga Morning, Mar 19, 2018.

  1. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    I had a strange experience. I was digging composted goat manure in a friend's pen when I noticed a vast number of reddish wriggling worms. Very active wriggling worms. I filled up multiple buckets of the manure & dumped it on my veggie garden.

    But I have been having some concerns about those worms. They were small (it is the beginning of the season here) and they were VERY active. They were also a medium reddish color . Our normal worms are pink and sluggish in comparison.

    Maybe the color difference is the richness of the goat manure? Maybe they were so active because they are very healthy?

    I have since read about Asian jumping worms, a scourge that is apparently taking the north US by storm. They can travel 12 miles/year and grow to 12" long. They out compete other worms & gobble up all organic matter within reach.

    This is the stuff of gardener's nightmares.

    These worms have a distinctive white ring about them. Unfortunately I will have to wait for an identification as we have had 3 winter storms since I dumped the manure in our community garden. Everything is still covered by 2 feet of snow.

    I am worrying about what I have unleashed. Anyone else encounter these kind of red active worms or these Asian jumping worms?
     
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  3. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    I read that they made an appearance in the northern mid-west of the States. Contact your local Ag Extension service and see if they have been reported in your area.
     
  4. Odif

    Odif Young Pine

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    The red wriggler could be compost worms. I hope so.
     
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  5. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Oh I do hope they are compost worms. Let us know when you get an ID for them won't you?
     



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  6. mart

    mart Strong Ash

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    Sounds like young red wigglers ! They are very active.
     
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  7. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Mart, I think you are right. I just read up on red wrigglers & checked their photos out. I didn't find anything negative about them in the literature.

    I'll still go for an actual ID once the snow recedes here.

    Thank you all.
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2018
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  8. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    I get and use cow and horse manure regularly. The sacks also have wriggling red worms in them. I have used them and set them in the ground plots as well as the compost bins without any problems. I hope that you have the same ones. They do indeed wriggle like mad.
    Good luck, meid.
     
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  9. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Thanks Sjoerd! I think you & Mart are right. I just have never seen worms like those. They look hyperactive!

    I am very pleased about this source of composted goat manure & am arranging for a load of it to be delivered to the community garden.
     
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  10. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    It is interesting to note, but I have only seen these little worms in sacks of manure that I pick up alongside the road by farms. The ones that I see in my plots look totally different.
     
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  11. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Interesting, huh. I wonder what is with that.
     
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  12. Growingpains

    Growingpains Young Pine

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    Very interesting conversation going on. I have yet to begin digging. Hopefully the wiggling worms haven't invaded Michigan.
     
  13. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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  14. Growingpains

    Growingpains Young Pine

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    Oh bummer, Cayuga! I will certainly beware of what inhabits our garden soil.
     
  15. Odif

    Odif Young Pine

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    I watched the video of the Asian jumping worms, it's scary. The video shows how to if red wriggles.

     
  16. Odif

    Odif Young Pine

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    Sorry identify red wrigglers
     
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