Biology:Amynthas agrestis

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Short description: Species of worm

Amynthas agrestis
Amynthas agrestis.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Clitellata
Order: Opisthopora
Suborder: Lumbricina
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

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

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

  1. The species goes by many common names, including the rustic jumping worm, the Alabama jumper, and the Asian crazy worm.

References

  1. "Amynthas agrestis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=974947. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Asian Jumping Worm". University of Nebraska–Lincoln. 2020-07-14. https://neinvasives.com/species/insects/asian-jumping-worm. 
  3. Sever, Megan (2020-09-29). "Invasive jumping worms damage U.S. soil and threaten forests". https://www.sciencenews.org/article/invasive-jumping-worms-damage-soil-threaten-forests. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Amynthas agrestis (crazy worm) - Invasive species". Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI). 2020-01-06. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/121715. 
  5. "Amynthas agrestis – New York State Urban Forestry Council". 2017-11-20. https://nysufc.org/tag/amynthas-agrestis/. 
  6. Görres, Josef (2014). "Amynthas agrestis: The Crazy Snake Worm". https://blog.uvm.edu/jgorres/amynthas/. 
  7. "Invasive Asian Jumping Earthworms" (in en). 2021-05-14. http://warren.cce.cornell.edu/gardening-landscape/warren-county-master-gardener-articles/invasive-asian-jumping-earthworms. 
  8. 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. 
  9. Yang, Maya (21 May 2022). "'Extremely active' jumping worms that can leap a foot raise alarm in California". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/21/invasive-jumping-worms-amynthas-agrestis-california. 
  10. Carroll, Tobias (2022-05-22). "Arrival of Jumping Worms Suggests California Might Be Experiencing the Apocalypse". https://www.insidehook.com/daily_brief/science/california-jumping-worms-invasive-species. 
  11. Rosenberg, Lizzy (2022-05-18). "Here's What Asian Jumping Worms Look Like, to Identify and Manage the Invasive Species". https://www.greenmatters.com/p/asian-jumping-worms. 
  12. 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. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.12.011. 

Wikidata ☰ Q21242686 entry