Update on Jumping Worms at the Barn
- Jun 13
- 1 min read
6/13/2025
Last year we reported that we thought we had discovered Jumping Worms in the Barn Demonstration Gardens. At the time, we submitted samples to the Department of Agriculture for identification but, because the worms were juvenile, a positive identification of Jumping Worms could not be made.
Jumping Worms typically reach their adult stage by July/August. Throughout the summer, the Barn Committee periodically checked the soil for the presence of the worms, but we never found an adult worm in the garden area.
In September, we submitted another sample for identification but, again, the worms were juvenile and could not be positively identified though the Department of Agriculture representative thought they looked like red wrigglers.
Because we have never found an adult worm in the garden soil, we are happy to assume that we do not have Jumping Worms in the Barn Demonstration Gardens however we will remain vigilant in monitoring for them and encourage any volunteer working in the gardens to let us know if they think they have seen Jumping Worm specimens, signs, or symptoms. We will continue to have shoe-cleaning brushes available to those who want to use them.
Nancy Berry
RCMG Volunteer
Barn Demonstration Garden Co-Lead
