New Asian pheretimoid "jumping earthworm" records (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) in Canada

摘要: Asian pheretimoid" jumping worms" are found throughout the northeast and midwest United States but had previously only been documented once in Canada, in 2014. In summer 2021, reports were received of" unusual" earthworms in the gardens of private residences in southern Ontario, Canada. Following up on these reports, we provide five new collections of jumping worms including the previously documented Amynthas hilgendorfi (syn. Metaphire hilgendorfi) and Amynthas agrestis in addition to the first records of Amynthas tokioensis (syn. Metaphirelevis) and Pithemera bicincta. This brings the total number of known earthworm species in Canada to 35. Jumping worms were collected primarily from household gardens but were also detected in a semi-natural ravine in Toronto, Ontario. Observations by landowners and the extent of invasion in the ravine support suspicions that undocumented jumping worm populations have already been present in Canada and Ontario in particular for some time. Further monitoring and research supported by community-science should be prioritized to determine the distribution and spread of jumping worms in Canada.