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Jumping worm hatching by date???? #866888
Asked May 03, 2024, 12:06 PM EDT
Hello I spoke with Lisa the other day and said I would send some photos. They are attached. Below is the detail of my situation and question. FYI, I have read about everything I can find on jumping worms but have not really found an answer to this question.
I have about 5-6 yards of compost from 2 years ago that I would like to use.
It is in a shady place so I can't really "cook" it. And there is two much to try and solarize (and don't really have a sunny place to lay it out without killing the lawn ets.
I started to use it and found a few (maybe a dozen) very small worms. They could be jumping worms as we have had them on the property. The compost did not look and feel like coffee grounds to me but that seems pretty subjective.
I would like to be able to use this compost and am willing to shift through it as I use it for worms but would like to wait till I can feel fairly certain last years cocoons have hatched.
If the recommendation is not to use it any suggestions as to what to do with it?
FYI I had a short video so you could see worm movement but it would not let me attach it.
Thank you Kathryn
Dutchess County New York
Expert Response
Hi Kathryn,
I looked at the pictures you sent and it's hard to ID them as AJW. This is how I ID them:
Appearance:
Color: Smooth, glossy, dark gray or brown (1.5 to 8 inches long)
Clitellum: Milky-white to gray band encircling the body completely (flush with the body, not raised)
Texture: Smooth and rubbery, not slimy or squishy
Behavior:
Jumping/Thrashing: Vigorous wriggling and thrashing when disturbed, resembling a snake-like motion
Habitat: Upper organic layer of soil, feeding on leaf litter, mulch, and root systems
You are welcome to bring in a sample of your compost with some of the worms into the lab for us to ID. There is a cost associated with that. here is the link with more info https://ccedutchess.org/gardening/horticulture-diagnostic-lab
I personally would not use the compost if it has AJW. If you are looking to dispose of it, you may want to contact your town's recycling center and see if they have any suggestions.
AJW cocoons are hatching now, as soil temps are over 50F. You may be able to sift through the compost to remove all the juveniles.
The other option is to take small piles of the compost and place it in a spot where it wont kill your grass, cover it with clear plastic and solarize it for several days before using. You want the soil temperature to reach 105F. Perhaps solarizing smaller batches is the way to go.
There is no easy solution here. The 1st step is to correctly ID the worms you have and take it from there.
Wishing you the best of luck. Please feel free to follow up with more pictures, video and to bring in a sample.
