Amynthas agrestis
| Amynthas agrestis | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Clade: | Sedentaria |
| Class: | Clitellata |
| Order: | Opisthopora |
| Family: | Megascolecidae |
| Genus: | Amynthas |
| Species: | A. agrestis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Amynthas agrestis (Goto & Hatai, 1899)
| |
Amynthas agrestis, the Asian jumping worm,[note 1] is a species of worm in the family Megascolecidae.[1] It has a smooth, glossy, grey or brown body with a milky-white clitellum,[2] and can range from 1.5 to 8 in (3.8 to 20.3 cm) in length.[2] Amynthas agrestis is native to Japan and the Korean Peninsula, and was introduced to North America due to increased human activity during the 19th century;[3][4][5][6] it is considered to be an invasive species in the United States. Worms within the genus Amynthas (jumping worms) reproduce and develop quicker than their European counterparts.[7]
Ecology
[edit]Amynthas agrestis became a problem in the United States, specifically the Southern United States, during the 19th century. Concern is increasing about this invasive species.[8][9][10][11]
One of the main concerns is their overconsumption of leaf litter, which impacts the microbial and species diversity of the native soil. Many of these ecological scientists have created ways to control this invasive species. One of the main ways to control A. agrestis is controlled burn in grassy fields and some forests. This method removes leaf litter, the main food source for the species, which should thoroughly control its overall population.[12]
Life cycle
[edit]The Asian jumping worm follows an annual life cycle. At least six months out of the year, it spends its time in the larval stage, then adults appear between May and June.[4]
Notes
[edit]- ^ The species goes by many common names, including the rustic jumping worm, the Alabama jumper, and the Asian crazy worm.
References
[edit]- ^ "Amynthas agrestis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Asian Jumping Worm". Nebraska Invasive Species Program. University of Nebraska–Lincoln. 2020-07-14.
- ^ Sever, Megan (2020-09-29). "Invasive jumping worms damage U.S. soil and threaten forests". Science News. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
- ^ a b "Amynthas agrestis (crazy worm) - Invasive species". Invasive Species Compendium. Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI). 2020-01-06.
- ^ "Amynthas agrestis – New York State Urban Forestry Council". New York State Urban Forestry Council. 2017-11-20. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
- ^ Görres, Josef (2014). "Amynthas agrestis: The Crazy Snake Worm". blog.uvm.edu. Archived from the original on 2014-07-30.
- ^ "Invasive Asian Jumping Earthworms". Cornell Cooperative Extension. 2021-05-14.
- ^ CHANG, CHIH-HAN; SNYDER, BRUCE A.; SZLAVECZ, KATALIN (2016-10-31). "Asian pheretimoid earthworms in North America north of Mexico: An illustrated key to the genera Amynthas, Metaphire, Pithemera, and Polypheretima (Clitellata: Megascolecidae)". Zootaxa. 4179 (3): 495–529. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4179.3.7. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 27811684.
- ^ Yang, Maya (21 May 2022). "'Extremely active' jumping worms that can leap a foot raise alarm in California". The Guardian.
- ^ Carroll, Tobias (2022-05-22). "Arrival of Jumping Worms Suggests California Might Be Experiencing the Apocalypse". InsideHook.
- ^ Rosenberg, Lizzy (2022-05-18). "Here's What Asian Jumping Worms Look Like, to Identify and Manage the Invasive Species". Green Matters.
- ^ Ikeda, Hiroshi; Callaham, Mac A.; O'Brien, Joseph J.; Hornsby, Benjamin S.; Wenk, Evelyn S. (1 March 2015). "Can the invasive earthworm, Amynthas agrestis, be controlled with prescribed fire?". Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 82: 21–27. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.12.011. ISSN 0038-0717.
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