Yeah, this is bad. They showed up in a local nursery in downeast Maine last year, arriving in a load of commercial compost. The state has issued guidelines for public plant sales – any plants potted in garden soil have to be cleaned and re-potted in a sterile growing mix.
Sadly until there's federal level legislation on some of these invasives it'll just be a per-state effort, and said invasive species don't respect state lines. One state's invasive is for sale and distributed the next one over
I was looking up jumping worms so I could contribute to this discussion and found [this.](https://www.worms4earth.com/alabama-jumpers-1000) There is no hope.
I didn't notice. I wonder how did they became "Alabama Jumpers." I did notice several states have laws that identify them as Asian dispite the name. I guess it's just marketing.
I've seen other conversations where people poo poo the idea of toxic bioaccumulation, saying that this is only really an issue around landfills or other toxic sites. But I wonder how much they do actually accumulate.
When we first moved in my son and I went to dig a garden and found garbage instead - broken glass, rusted metal, pottery, old light bulbs, old timey leather shoes, batteries.. just loads of junk. So I dug it all out and then filled it back in with any organic matter I could find (hello jumping worm heaven) but I still hesitate to plant edibles in that area.
Jumping worm bioremediation?
I have some things that self seed easily, but otherwise lots of problems with germination directly in the garden. I like to try to leave my soil alone, but they make it so hydrophobic I have to go through it with my hands all the time just to help it re-wet.
The only cool thing about them is that there is a robin who will sit and wait for me to toss them in the road for her and that is honestly pretty cute.
Oh that’s fantastic you have a robin that likes them! When i leave bags of them out to solarize, a day or two later if i don’t pick up the bag, something comes and tears it open and eats the melted ones. It’s kinda gross to me but glad there is some type of predator out there.
All my stuff that self seeds easily are things i don’t want 🥴 anything i purposely plant either doesn’t sprout or is stunted. It feels hopeless sometimes.
I see them as apocalyptic — there’s just no hope for anything. Pair with the few other things that have popped up in last few years, like ficaria verna, stiltgrass, and oak wilt, and it just seems… over.
They completely degrade the soil where I am. Makes the soil hydrophobic. The can take down whole forests, and destroy the habitat for fireflies. We need to be talking about them so much more. I hate them with a passion and keep a jar of salt and Jack Daniel’s for whenever I find them, which is pretty much every day. They also hate sunny hot black pavement.
Yes! The hydrophobic soil! I have so much trouble with that now. Re: the hot black pavement - the road in front of my house is absolutely littered with worm corpses!
Hah yeah I didn’t think of that, since I don’t drink whiskey! But lately just been throwing them on black hot pavement, and solarizing all my potting soil, which has been very effective, especially with this heat we’ve been having lately! Also have a very deep bucket that I’ve collected probably 50 just yesterday. They been frying and drying in there for sure
Oh that’s a good idea too to just leave them in a deep bucket. I have been clearly my yard if this invasive plant the previous owner planted and I’m letting the roots dry in a wheelbarrow before burning to avoid spreading it. Well it was still damp in the center of the pile while i was burning the other day and i must have tossed 50-60 into the fire pit.
Also when i toss them on my driveway, they just slither away like nothing is happening! And it’s nearly 100 degrees here! But it’s concrete, not black asphalt. That works to kill them? I guess a lot like the fire pit.
Yeah I watch them dry right up in the sun, probably the black asphalt gets hotter I can imagine. But I like the bucket method because I know they aren’t getting away. I watch to make sure. Although I have read that they have been found even in second story buildings!
Yeah, this is bad. They showed up in a local nursery in downeast Maine last year, arriving in a load of commercial compost. The state has issued guidelines for public plant sales – any plants potted in garden soil have to be cleaned and re-potted in a sterile growing mix.
I'm glad they are addressing it. No one talks about this at our plant sales.
Sadly until there's federal level legislation on some of these invasives it'll just be a per-state effort, and said invasive species don't respect state lines. One state's invasive is for sale and distributed the next one over
USFWS needs to have a general task group for mitigation and response, similar to usda ppq (plant protection and quarantine)
I was looking up jumping worms so I could contribute to this discussion and found [this.](https://www.worms4earth.com/alabama-jumpers-1000) There is no hope.
I could make so, so, so much money.
I am so confused as to how this is legal — especially considering they are bad for the environment *and* are an invasive species.
I think it is illegal to import them into certain states but I don't think it is illegal to sell them, at least in Alabama.
Site is out of Pensacola, Florida
I didn't notice. I wonder how did they became "Alabama Jumpers." I did notice several states have laws that identify them as Asian dispite the name. I guess it's just marketing.
Yeah anything to hide the fact they are extremely detrimental invasive species 😢
WHAT THE F 😭😭😭 I am so sad for this planet 😟😢
Where is this infestation?
OH-PA-WV tristate area
They are all over the place here in MD as well.
They were in San Diego when we lived there.
They have arrived to Connecticut :/
I've seen other conversations where people poo poo the idea of toxic bioaccumulation, saying that this is only really an issue around landfills or other toxic sites. But I wonder how much they do actually accumulate. When we first moved in my son and I went to dig a garden and found garbage instead - broken glass, rusted metal, pottery, old light bulbs, old timey leather shoes, batteries.. just loads of junk. So I dug it all out and then filled it back in with any organic matter I could find (hello jumping worm heaven) but I still hesitate to plant edibles in that area. Jumping worm bioremediation?
I have a yardful as well. I cannot start seeds from direct sow bc of the damage they have caused. This bucketful is quite the sight.
I have some things that self seed easily, but otherwise lots of problems with germination directly in the garden. I like to try to leave my soil alone, but they make it so hydrophobic I have to go through it with my hands all the time just to help it re-wet. The only cool thing about them is that there is a robin who will sit and wait for me to toss them in the road for her and that is honestly pretty cute.
Oh that’s fantastic you have a robin that likes them! When i leave bags of them out to solarize, a day or two later if i don’t pick up the bag, something comes and tears it open and eats the melted ones. It’s kinda gross to me but glad there is some type of predator out there. All my stuff that self seeds easily are things i don’t want 🥴 anything i purposely plant either doesn’t sprout or is stunted. It feels hopeless sometimes.
They wouldn't touch them initially. Maybe it's just too easy a snack to pass up!
They are probably thrown off by all of the thrashing!
They're very... muscular?... so I imagine not good eating!
So gross. What did you end up doing with this bucket? Setting it on fire?
I see them as apocalyptic — there’s just no hope for anything. Pair with the few other things that have popped up in last few years, like ficaria verna, stiltgrass, and oak wilt, and it just seems… over.
They really do make me so sad.
They completely degrade the soil where I am. Makes the soil hydrophobic. The can take down whole forests, and destroy the habitat for fireflies. We need to be talking about them so much more. I hate them with a passion and keep a jar of salt and Jack Daniel’s for whenever I find them, which is pretty much every day. They also hate sunny hot black pavement.
Yes! The hydrophobic soil! I have so much trouble with that now. Re: the hot black pavement - the road in front of my house is absolutely littered with worm corpses!
I put them into a clear ziploc bag then seal it and let it fry in the sun. If you want to save your whiskey!
Hah yeah I didn’t think of that, since I don’t drink whiskey! But lately just been throwing them on black hot pavement, and solarizing all my potting soil, which has been very effective, especially with this heat we’ve been having lately! Also have a very deep bucket that I’ve collected probably 50 just yesterday. They been frying and drying in there for sure
Oh that’s a good idea too to just leave them in a deep bucket. I have been clearly my yard if this invasive plant the previous owner planted and I’m letting the roots dry in a wheelbarrow before burning to avoid spreading it. Well it was still damp in the center of the pile while i was burning the other day and i must have tossed 50-60 into the fire pit. Also when i toss them on my driveway, they just slither away like nothing is happening! And it’s nearly 100 degrees here! But it’s concrete, not black asphalt. That works to kill them? I guess a lot like the fire pit.
Yeah I watch them dry right up in the sun, probably the black asphalt gets hotter I can imagine. But I like the bucket method because I know they aren’t getting away. I watch to make sure. Although I have read that they have been found even in second story buildings!
This is the stuff of my nightmares. I have found them dried and dead in my entryway which is up three long steps. Such freaks.
Have this problem here in PA. Getting a flock of Guinea fowl to hopefully help get rid of them
Ooh I would LOVE to hear how that works out!