Invasive Jumping Worms That Violently Thrash If Handled Now in at Least 15 U.S. States On 4/19/21 at 8:00 AM EDT The worm, Amynthas spp, is native to East Asia but is believed to have been brought into the U.S. as fishing bait. Scientists warn they feed on organic matter in soil, eating many of the crucial nutrients that plants, fungi and animals require to thrive. When the species was first introduced to the country it was limited to regions along the U.S. coasts, but has since spread inland, KTVI reported. As of 2021, distribution includes Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Indiana, Minnesota, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio, the news outlet noted, citing specialists from the University of Illinois that last week confirmed that the invasive worms were discovered in Peoria County.