Jumping worms have garnered a lot of interest from the public in recent years. Presenter Dr. Olga Kostromytska will teach us about the identification and biology of invasive earthworms in MA, and their role in and impact on urban landscapes. In particular, she will discuss the “crazy/jumping worm” species (Amynthas spp.) that has many homeowners in MA and New England concerned. She will also share updates about her current research.

About the Presenter:

Extension Assistant Professor Olga Kostromytska received her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Entomology from the University of Florida, specializing in turf entomology. Since 2010, she has worked as a post-doctoral researcher at Rutgers University, focusing on biology and management of annual bluegrass weevil, a destructive pest on golf courses. She was worked on projects studying host plant resistance, insecticide resistance, biocontrol options, chemical ecology and reproductive diapause of annual bluegrass weevil. Other research interests include biology and management of white grubs, mole crickets, billbugs, chinchbugs, cutworms.

She joined University of Massachusetts in September 2018, as an Extension faculty member. Her research program is centered on gaining better understanding of the biology and ecology of turfgrass insect pests, developing sustainable management strategies with reduced insecticide applications, investigating insecticide resistance mechanisms, and developing resistance mitigation programs.

This program is offered in partnership with the Middlesex Conservation District.