Jumping worm cocoons

Hi Sharon,
Thanks for using the MyWoodlot forum. I'm not sure if those are jumping worm cocoons or not. I didn't even know they had cocoons! However, I did find some resources that you may find to be useful. This Minnesota DNR page has some photos of jumping worm cocoons that look similar to your photograph: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialanimals/jumping-worm/index.html. Of course, they also look similar to the cocoons of European nightcrawlers: https://www.buckeyeorganics.net/collections/worm-cocoons/products/european-nightcrawler-cocoons. The MN DNR article says that soil that looks like coffee grounds is a tell-tale sign of jumping worms. Did you notice this where you found the cocoons? This fact sheet from Cornell Cooperative Extension (http://ccetompkins.org/resources/jumping-worm-fact-sheet) provides contact information for experts in New York, as well as a prompt to report jumping worm sightings on http://www.nyimapinvasives.org. I hope this is helpful. Let us know what you find out.
Cheers,
Kris Brown

I am familiar with the "coffee grounds" appearance left by these worms. What I did find very close to these were many small jumping worms. As I dug out further, I found larger jumping worms, but no noticeable damage to the soil. I usually see that later in the summer. I used ImapInvasives a few years back to document the jumping worms I found under planters by my greenhouse, so I know they are in my yard. I gather them as I find them and solarize them. I have reached out to John Thompson, CRISP Coordinator of Catskill Center and awaiting a reply.

Thanks