Country Life

Asian jumping worms are a relatively new invasive species but they are rapidly spreading across the United States. They can be found in the Southeast, along the Eastern Seaboard, and in mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and some Northwestern states.

There are still native species of earthworms in a few areas of North America, but in states where glaciation occurred the native species were wiped out. Forests developed without them, but in time European earthworms appeared and began to burrow through the soil. As the tunnels were created, the earthworms mixed soil components and improved air and water movement. Unfortunately, European nightcrawlers are now being displaced by the destructive Asian jumping worms.