According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the crazy worms, formally known as Amynthas spp, are an invasive species from Asia. Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension said they can be identified by their “characteristic smooth, often milky white clitellum (band near the head of the worm).” These worms earned their moniker because they “thrash wildly when handled.” Additionally, they are “four to eight inches long, move quickly like a snake, and can shed their tails when threatened,” per Cornell. You can see the worms in action in a Wisconsin DNR video posted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Although a tiny worm may seem harmless, these worms can do so much damage to the soil that nothing can grow there again. According to a Fox affiliate in St. Louis, these worms are “displacing earthworms, centipedes, and other animals. They also damage plant roots, deplete nutrients, and alter the water-holding capacity of the soil. Plants become more susceptible to pests, drought, and disease. The worms are a danger to agriculture, gardens, and forests.” Fox reports that the Missouri Department of Conservation wants people to kill these worms if they see them. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Extension said in order to destroy them, you need to remove the critters from the ground and place them in a plastic bag in the sun for at least 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, you should dispose of the bag in the trash. Although these worms were first spotted on the coast, they have since been seen in these 14 U.S. states. Keep reading to find out if you need to be on the lookout for these crazy worms, and for more insects to keep an eye out for, If You Smell This in Your Bedroom, You Might Have Bed Bugs. And for more insects infesting your state, If You Live Here, Prepare for a Major Bug Infestation, Expert Warns. And for more nearby creatures, If You See This in Your Yard, Prepare for a Bug Invasion, USDA Says.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb And for more useful information delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. And for more insects to watch out for, These Awful Bugs You Forgot About May Soon Come Back, Exterminators Warn.
