The West Chicago Garden Club

Jumping Worms & Other Invasives

Our March speaker comes to us from the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program.  Tricia Bethke not only gives talks for the Master Gardener Speaker’s Bureau, but gives presentations as a Morton Arboretum employee. She is a Forest Pest Outreach Coordinator at the Arboretum and co-authored the Management of Invasive Plants and Pests of Illinois guide.

According to the UofI Extension Invasive Species Alert: Jumping Worms:

Jumping worms, (Amynthas spp.) have recently been discovered in Illinois. This new invasive species was first identified in Illinois in 2015 in northern Illinois and in 2016 in southern Illinois. Jumping worms are earthworms native to East Asia. They also have been called crazy worms, Alabama jumpers, and snake worms.

Jumping worms are voracious consumers of organic material, which can affect soil quality. They breed quickly and eggs survive Illinois winters. Adults reach maturity in approximately 60 days, allowing populations to grow exponentially during the growing season. These worms are also capable of reproducing without mating.

Join us on March 28th at St. Andrews Lutheran Church — Northeast corner of Geneva Rd and Prince Crossing

Meeting Time:

         6:45PM Refreshments

         7:00PM Business Meeting

         7:15PM Program

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