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Coffee Break

Coffee Break: Jumping Worms

The invasive jumping worm can strip the soil of nutrients, kill plants and cause severe erosion. It was first discovered in Minnesota in 2006. It gets its name because it aggressively writhes and wriggles like a snake when disturbed, appearing to "jump."
The invasive jumping worm can strip the soil of nutrients, kill plants and cause severe erosion. It was first discovered in Minnesota in 2006. It gets its name because it aggressively writhes and wriggles like a snake when disturbed, appearing to "jump."courtesy of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum

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by Jill Riley and Jesse Wiza

September 02, 2020

Thanks to MPR's Dan Kraker up in Duluth for his reporting on the invasive 'jumping worm' that has wriggled its way into Minnesota soil this summer.

These destructive earthworms, native to Asia, can quickly degrade soils and damage garden plants and lawns.

They're called "jumping worms" because of their unusual, aggressive behavior. When disturbed, they move like a snake, writhing and squiggling, and sometimes appear to be jumping.

They live and feed in the leaf litter in the top 2 inches of soil, and can kill plants, strip the soil of nutrients and trigger severe erosion. The worms change the soil texture to appear like coffee grounds or cat litter.

For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that mention jumping?

Songs Played

Sylvan Esso - Kick Jump Twist
Louis Prima - Jump, Jive, An' Wall
Harry Belafonte - Jump in the Line
The Bird and The Bee - Jump
Nilsson - Jump Into The Fire
Kris Kross - Jump

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive. Or, when you register for a Minnesota Public Radio account, you can send requests via Alexa, too Just say "Alexa, ask The Current to play Song by Artist" e.g. "Alexa, ask The Current to play Left of the Dial by The Replacements."