Possible Jumping Worms at the Barn

Jun 11, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Jun 15, 2024

6/06/2024

A few days ago, one of the Master Gardeners on the Barn Garden Maintenance Team discovered some small juvenile worms in the wood chips around the raised beds at the Barn. She suspected that they were jumping worms and reported it to the DNR. Because the worms were juveniles, they could not be positively identified and we will have to submit any suspicious worms in late July/August after they reach the adult stage.

Even though the worms haven’t been positively identified, we are assuming that they are jumping worms and are taking steps to control the infestation. Thus, we are in the process of solarizing the area in which the worms were found and are hopeful that this will kill them.

Management Plan

In order to prevent any potential spread of the worms, we are changing our volunteer protocols for working at the Barn Demonstration Garden.

Clean Your Shoes – We will have boot brushes available near the raised beds and also in the shed. We ask all volunteers to use the brushes to brush any dirt off their shoes before entering the gardens. They will also need to brush off their shoes if they transition from working in one garden to another. At the end of the shift, volunteers will again need to brush any dirt or debris off their shoes.
Use Shoe Covers – We will also have a few shoe covers ("booties") available in the shed at the Barn in case someone would prefer to wear them.
Clean Garden Tools Before AND After– Volunteers should make sure that all tools and gloves they bring to use when working in the Barn Demonstration Gardens have been washed and are clean before they leave. If transitioning from one garden to another, volunteers will need to wash off gloves and any equipment they are using before entering another garden. At the end of each shift, all volunteers will need to wash off any tools and gloves they used while working in the Barn Demonstration Gardens.

We realize this may be an inconvenience for some but we hope that these are cautionary steps can stop the worms from spreading to the other gardens and to volunteer’s homes.

If you are working in the Barn Demonstration Gardens this summer and you see a potential jumping worm, please take video and photos. Send these to Nancy Berry.

FAQ Related to Jumping Worms at the Barn

What should volunteers do if they are are signed up to work at the Barn but have concerns about volunteering there?

If volunteers have concerns about working at the barn, they should contact me or find a replacement. We discourage just dropping out.

What should volunteers do if they find any Jumping Worms?

If they find a jumping worm they should take a picture or video of it making sure they get a clear picture of the clitellum and put it in a plastic zip lock bag. We have plastic bags in the harvesting bin at the Barn. We will use the picture to send to the DNR so they should notify one of Barn Team Members about this. They can dispose of the bag in the trash.

Will the Barn team have gloves and tools for volunteer to keep and use on-site? Should volunteers stop bringing their own?

We are informing volunteers that we have tools on site for their use but they can bring their own if they wash them before beginning their shift.

Has this information been shared with other groups using the grounds at the Barn?

We have shared the information with Elder June who is in charge of the medicinal garden and with Darren who is sharing the information with facilities management and other Extension staff.

Is there/Will there be any signage about the pests?

There is signage at the Barn related to safety procedures before, during and at the end of each shift. The signage is located on the inside and outside of the shed door. I also posted information at each of the water faucets but they keep disappearing so I’ll keep putting them up. We contact all volunteers before their maintenance shifts at the Barn and we are giving them information about the jumping worms at that time. We will need to do the same thing with the harvesting and watering volunteers.

Where are cleaning supplies stored for boots and tools?

We are not asking volunteers to use cleaning supplies at this time- only to brush off all soil from their shoes and wash off all soil and debris from their equipment on the pavement in the parking lot. I looked up information at the extension site and it indicated that this is enough.