Prevention and Early Detection of Asian Earthworms and Reducing the Spread of European Earthworms

Abstract

We used a multi-pronged approach to quantify of the relative importance of different vectors of spread for invasive earthworms, make management and regulatory recommendations and create mechanisms for public engagement and dissemination of our project results through the Great Lakes Worm Watch website and diverse stakeholders. Internet sales of earthworms and earthworm related products posed large risks for the introduction of new earthworm species and continued spread of those already in the state. Of 38 earthworm products sampled, 87% were either contaminated with other earthworm species or provided inaccurate identification.