Snake Worm Invasions

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Guest blogger Ali Drew

 
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Has your soil been looking different lately? Does it resemble coffee grounds or hamburger meat? If so, you may have a snake worm invasion on your hands.

What is a snake worm?

Snake worms are a kind of earthworms, introduced with plant material from Japan and Korea. These pests “do not target a particular organism the way many pests do. Instead, they ravage the soil on which all plant life relies” (NY Times). Josef H. Görres, a UVM professor in the department of plant and soil science, notes that the pests damage entire ecosystems, not just specific species.

What can you do?

  1. If you have snake worms, report them with the address of where you saw them or coordinates (cell phones can give you GPS coordinates) to Professor Josef Görres at jgorres@uvm.edu.

  2. Prevent the worms from getting into your garden by:

    1. Washing the roots of plants you buy or receive in a plant exchange. Bare root exchanges are best.

    2. Growing the plants from seed.

    3. Making your own compost, or buy compost from reputable sources.

Find more information from NY Times & from CAV/Professor Josef Görres