
An invasive Amynthas worm, also known as a crazy snake worm, Asian jumping worm, and Alabama jumper. Photo by Tom Potterfield (Flickr).
Earthworms may seem harmless, but they have the power to transform some of America’s forests—and not in a good way.
Named for the way they writhe and leap off the ground like snakes on a hot plate, crazy snake worms are an invasive species on the move through the eastern half of the country. Originally from Korea and Japan, these annelids are thought to have arrived in the United States 50-some years ago as stowaways in the pots of decorative plants. Since then, crazy snake worms have spread out across Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Illinois, Wisconsin, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and other states.
Read the full OnEarth story by Jason Bittel, February 21, 2019.