Survey on the Snake Worm (Amynthas species) for Connecticut Master Gardeners |
Brief description:
Crazy Snakeworms are distinguished from other earthworms by their startling, rapid, snake like movement when disturbed. They squirm violently when handled, sometimes actually leaping from one's hand. They move quickly along the ground in a snake-like movement. The light band around their body can be seen as of July when they mature. This band is well off-set from the body by color and goes all the way around their body (see image below). In other earthworms the band only stretches half-way or three quarters around the body. They look unlike any other earthworm species of their size. The only other earthworm that attains that size in New England is the Night Crawler which has a dark red head. However at this part of the year you may see adults that vary in size from 1.5 to 8 inches.
click here to check out how this earthworm moves.