Monitoring Jumping Worms

Led by Jumping Worm researcher Katie Laushman (UW Nelson Institute, Environment and Resources), the entire Pairie Intern crew and UW Preserve staff were out today to begin monitoring the presence of Jumping Worms in the Preserve. They first tested the large leaf compost pile accumulated from deliveries of leaf pick-ups  by the Village of Shrorewood Hills. After establishing the presence of Asian Jumping Worms at the bottom of the pile, the crew fanned out into Bill's Woods to survey for the presence of the undesirable worms in the Preserve, if any. To learn more about the worms, their spread in Wisconsin and Best Practices to minimize spread, read the UW Arboretum Public Information Sheet. Katie Laushman studies the effect of Jumping Worms (Amynthas spp.) on above-ground woodland vegetation. Photos Gisela Kutzbach.