MONTPELIER, Vt.—Got jumping worms?

Vermont sugarmakers are being asked to participate in a survey to find out if jumping worms have been found in the sugarbush.

This short survey will determine how widely distributed the jumping worms are in Vermont.

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The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and the VT Urban and Community Forestry program are interested in finding out more about the distribution of jumping worms, Amynthas sp., in Vermont. 

These are a recent invasive species and appear to have detrimental effects on soil characteristics. 

They can change the texture and chemistry of the soil, they strip the soil of nutrients, they consume the leaf litter and leave the soil vulnerable to invasive plants. 

Jumping worms, known also as Asian jumping worms, crazy worms, Alabama jumpers and snake worms, are invasive earthworms native to eastern Asia. 

Jumping worms get their name from their behavior. When handled, they violently thrash, spring into the air and can even shed their tails to escape.

The jumping worms alter the structure and chemistry of the soil dramatically, leaving a distinctive grainy soil full of worm castings.