Southeastern Minnesota's forests are on steep slopes that can be prone to soil erosion. This MITPPC project is hoping to better understand the impact of jumping worms on these forest slopes. Preliminary study shows that  jumping worm-infested soils are extremely light and loose, likely making them highly susceptible to soil erosion by human footsteps, rainfall, and water runoff. For now, in 2024, we're asking volunteers to actively look for jumping worms in the forests of southeastern Minnesota and report them to EDDMapS. Possibly later this summer, or for sure in 2025, we'll be asking volunteers to monitor specific jumping worm infested forest soils to document erosion. 

If you'd like to stay updated about this project or adopt a soil survey location in 2025 please fill-out this short contact form: https://z.umn.edu/TIPSregistration and indicate you're interested in the "Jumping worms in SE Minnesota's forest" project.

Many gardeners find jumping worms when their hands are working the soil or weeding. However in forests where there is often a robust herbaceous plant layer, leaves on the forest floor and few folks hand weeding or turning the soil you may need to look harder to find jumping worms. 

Prioritize moister north and east slopes and areas where material like fall leaves and old garden pots are dumped or new plants were recently added to the forest because these are common introduction points for jumping worms.  These areas are often near parking lots, woods roads and picnic areas. Step into the forest and start looking in the soil for jumping worms by first removing the leaves and then manipulating the soil. You may quickly find jumping worms.  

Another way to confidently identify the presence or absence of jumping worms is an adapted the mustard pour worm survey method (see video for an example). Because jumping worms live in the top 8" of soil they emerge quickly and you don't need to use as much water or mustard powder. One heaping tablespoon of dried mustard powder mixed with a large water bottle of water should be enough to irritate and find (or not) jumping worms within a few minutes. 

Jumping worms are about the size of nightcrawlers, but their clitellum (collar-like ring) is located 1/3 the length down the worm from the head, and it is smooth, cloudy-white and constricted, unlike the swelled saddle-like clitellum of European earthworms. Jumping worms worms may jump and wiggle noticeably when disturbed. They can move across the ground in an “S” pattern like a snake. To learn more about jumping worm identification visit this UMN Meet the Jumping Worm website.

It's free and easy to use the EDDMapS smartphone app to report invasive species including jumping worms. Download the app on your Android or Apple smartphone, set-up your login information and then you're ready to go. Skip to minute 1:15 and watch this short video to learn more.

Worm identification can be tricky so good photos are critical. For each EDDMapS report provide at least 3 good imagines of the worm from several angles and make sure the clitellum is visible and the photo clear. Jumping worms cannot be identified until the worm is mature and clitellum fully developed. In Minnesota this is likely mid-July. Before then jumping worms cannot be identified. Watch this video on how to take good identification photos (the video is from iNaturalist, but be sure to report your jumping worms to EDDMapS).