BELLOWS FALLS — Gardeners interested in learning about the invasive jumping worm pest are invited to attend a webinar hosted by the Southeast Chapter of the University of Vermont (UVM) Extension Master Gardener Program.
The webinar called, “Jumping Worms. Why Worry? What Can You Do,” will feature UVM's Dr. Josef Gorres as its presenter. It will be held remotely via Zoom on Saturday, May 14, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Jumping worms are invasive earthworms hailing from eastern Asia. Their major mode of spread is with horticultural goods, but other mechanisms are also suspected vectors. These earthworms can damage deciduous forest ecosystems and, recently, have also been linked to plant damage in gardens and horticulture. This talk will introduce the biology of these earthworms, the history of the invasion, and suggest possible ways to manage them.
Dr. Josef Gorres is an associate professor at the University of Vermont. He teaches soil science and his research includes the study of jumping worms.
The Southeast Chapter is a group of Extension master gardener volunteers in Windham and Windsor counties who provide research-based gardening information in their communities. For more information about the program, visit uvm.edu/extension/mastergardener.
This event is in collaboration with the Rockingham Free Public Library. Registration is free; donations will be accepted to support garden education programming offered by the Southeast Chapter. Closed captioning will be available. To register, visit bit.ly/662-worm.