In many parts of northern North America, there have been no earthworms since before the last ice age. Now, with help from humans, invasive earthworms are colonizing new areas. And in areas of a forest with more invasive earthworms, there are fewer insects, a new study has found.
The study authors say that along with climate change, land use change and pesticides, earthworm invasions might be an “underappreciated driver” in a widespread decline of insects that some scientists have raised the alarm about.
Invasive earthworms have already been linked to changes in soil organisms, plant communities and forests’ ability to store
