The week of February 23rd is National Invasive Species Awareness Week.

This past gardening season, I had several questions about two invasive critters that plagued gardeners:

1. Jumping Worms – Jumping worms are invasive earthworms first confirmed in Wisconsin in 2013. They feed on organic matter, such as leaf litter and mulch, and within the soil. They excrete grainy-looking, hard little pellets (“castings”) that alter the texture and composition of the soil. For more information of jumping worms, visit the WI DNR’s webpage on Jumping Worms.

2. Lily Leaf Beetle – LLB can cause significant damage to true lilies (Lilium spp.), including both native and cultivated types, as well as fritillaries (Fritillaria spp.) Learn more at https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/lily-leaf-beetle/. For more information on invasive species I.D. and impacts in Wisconsin, visit the Wisconsin First Detector Network.