Watch Your Step! Invasive Jumping Worms Are Spreading in Illinois
Apparently, you don't need legs or feet to be able to jump.
In the middle of a pandemic, the last thing we need is jumping worms. But here we are, and it's starting to feel like one big movie again. So, let's talk about jumping worms, shall we?
This isn't the first time jumping words have spread across Illinois, but does it make it any less terrifying? I know worms are harmless, but when I'm walking on the sidewalk and I see one I always go out of my way to avoid it. The thought of stepping away to avoid it and it jumps towards me is just too much for me to handle.
So what exactly do these things look like and where would you come across them? According to Advantagenews -
Jumping worms are six to eight inches long. A narrow, white-ish band encircles their bodies. They do not literally jump. Scratch a thin layer of topsoil to see them thrash around, more like snakes than earthworms.
If your plan is to wait until the winter cold kills them off, you're waiting for something that's never going to happen. Apparently, adult jumping worms die after the first freeze, but they shed little tiny cocoons full of microscopic eggs before they die.
Fun right? So fun. Jumping worms are a fairly new species in the United States. It's estimated that they were first seen in Illinois in 2015. Either way, you've been warned. Next time you see a worm, do a double-take to see if it's a normal worm or the jumping species.
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