More About Earthworms–Are They Good or Bad?

So last week I did my Weekly Creature Feature about Earthworms and one of the points I made was that even though people associate earthworms with being “good for the soil,” many are in fact not good for the soil at all, especially if they live in forests. One reader wrote in and asked how to tell the difference between a “good” and a “bad” worm.

Perhaps you had this thought too as you were reading the post. It is certainly a little known truth–that earthworms could actually be non-beneficial and invasive. All of our lives it seems we were lead to believe just the opposite–that the presence of earthworms was a wonderful thing as these legless creatures provided us with a number of free services including aiding in decomposition of organic material and aerating the soil.

But research by scientists shows that we are wrong in a lot of ways about the way we think of earthworms. Native earthworms disappeared 10,000 years ago in all areas north of Pennsylvania. Any worms that you find north of that imaginary line are non-native and often invasive. Scientists define non-native as not originating FROM here and invasive as being non-native AND causing damage to our economy, our environment or our health. Many earthworms fit both definitions.

There is no such thing as a “good” worm or a “bad” worm as all worms just are what they are: That is, they eat decaying organic matter and leave behind changed soil. Everyone knows that having worms in your compost is a good thing. The worms break down all the organic matter, changing the structure, chemistry and biology of living organisms in the soil.  Interestingly, those same worms that are in the soil in a FOREST are not good. Northern Forests where earthworms are present lack the thick layer of organic material on the surface, called duff. Many plants and animals thrive, and even require, this thick layer of duff. When worms invade the soil and run through this layer in no time flat, those same plants and animals suffer. In addition, scientists find that in forests where earthworms are present, two other negative effects are less diversity and abundance of fungi. And while this may not seem all that important, it actually is as many plants and animals depend on that fungi.

Below are two wonderful videos detailing why earthworms are not always a positive thing: This first one if from the National Science Foundation and really gives clear evidence of a forest with no worms present, compared to a forest where earthworms ARE present. The difference is amazing! Check it out here: Video

The other video is from  The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center:

So if you are reading this and you live in one of the northern states–north of PA, then YOU can help stop the spread of invasive worms by:

• Throwing out any leftover worm bait after fishing instead of “letting them go” out in the woods or by the lakes where you are fishing
• Help spread the word about the importance of stopping the spread of these worms into our forests
• If you do compost, DO freeze your compost for at least 1 week before spreading it in your garden or outside. Freezing will kill any earthworms or eggs.
• Do not move leaves, mulch, compost or soil from one spot to another unless you are certain no earthworms or cocoons are present.

If you live south of PA, you can take the same steps, especially if you live in or near a forest, even though in many, if not all areas, worms already exist.

Hopefully this cleared up some questions and provided a bit more information. Please use the comment box if you have something to say or ask.