Overview
- State agriculture officials say detections have expanded beyond Denver’s Hilltop neighborhood to a roughly 60‑mile stretch between Boulder and Castle Rock.
- Jumping worms rapidly strip leaf litter, break down soil structure, harm plant roots, and speed up drying, which can worsen drought stress in gardens and natural areas.
- With no effective eradication or approved pesticides, agencies urge buyers to inspect plants, use heat‑treated compost or bare‑root stock, avoid moving soil, and report sightings.
- Residents can spot the pest by its violent thrashing, a milky white band that fully encircles the body, and coffee‑grounds‑like soil made of the worms’ castings.
- Native to East Asia and now widespread in much of the East and Midwest, the species was reported in California in 2021–2023, and its mustard‑seed‑size cocoons spread easily in soil, mulch, potted plants, and equipment.