An invasive species of worm known as snakeworms or “wildworms” is spreading rapidly in US states, and scientists are desperate to contain the infestation. These worms, which belong to the genus Amynthas in Latin, are actually called “Asian jumping worms”.
THEY ARE DEATHING
Contingency plans are being prepared for worms, which are starting to cause serious problems in some parts of the USA. These worms, which make the lands they spread unproductive, also poison the animals that eat them.
INTRODUCED AS FEED
“Asian jumping worms”, which first entered the United States in 1948 at the Bronx Zoo in New York as bait for Australian platypuses, are about to become one of the country’s biggest problems.
Recent severe storms have caused worms to spread across the country. The worms, which destroyed the native species in the lands they reached, also caused the soil to become unproductive.
GREAT THREAT TO BIRDS
They can be highly toxic to native birds, as they tend to accumulate high concentrations of heavy metals in their bodies. They can also increase greenhouse gas emissions from the soil by up to 50%, twice that of European earthworms. The worms are most active in September and October, but there are concerns that rising global temperatures will lead to two generations a year, allowing them to reproduce twice as often.
THERE IS NO WAY YET
There is no effective way to get rid of jumping worms yet. So far no pesticides or other drugs have been effective. Authorities recommend drowning them in soapy water or putting them in bags and dying in the hot sun.
In a remarkable warning; “Even if you think they’re dead, don’t just throw the corpses in the flower beds: “Some can be stunned, healed, and continue to breed,” it said.