![]() You wouldn't want to eat one, because they do in fact produce a poison that they use in predation. It doesn't affect people that just touch them. So, when it attaches itself to the prey it produces an enzyme and toxin that immobilizes the creature and dissolves the creature.Ĭarlton said, "it simply dissolves it and makes it almost a liquid." What happens if you touch a hammerhead worm?Ĭarlton explained, "If you did come in contact with one, you should wash your hands because they do produce a toxin. "They sort of wrap themselves around them (insects), and they digest them from the inside out and they basically drink the digested organism like a Slurpee," Carlton said.Ī hammerhead worm's mouth is on the underside of the worm. Why to use mulch: Joe White: Is there gardening value to mulch? Garden tips: Joe White: Want spectacular color in your garden? Try azaleas and roses So, the net impact on the environment is probably zero," Carlton said. ![]() So you have a situation where you have an introduced predator feeding on introduced earthworms. In the case of this common one that feeds on earthworms, most of the earthworms that we have in Louisiana are actually introduced as well. "These things have a small ecological impact on the things that they're feeding on. The earthworm is important in the underground scene because of its role in the decomposition of organic matters, increased soil aeration, water movement and plant growth. The biggest threat of the hammerhead worm is that it kills the good worms. "They're quite interesting." Why is the hammerhead worm so important? You find them typically under compost or under boards," Carlton said. "These big terrestrial flatworms crawl around, they live in moist places. They can be found underneath leaves and in dark areas. Much like slugs, these worms are active at night and after rain when the soil is moist. These invasive species are native to Southeast Asia, and have an affinity to hot, humid locations such as the southern United States region. ![]() The most important feature for identification are the two eye spots at the head end. The most common is Bipalium kewense which originated in the botanical gardens of the United Kingdom. Detection and treatment of harmful flatworms. In North America, there's probably five or six."Ĭarlton continued to say that Louisiana has more than one of these groups of flatworms. "These terrestrial flatworms belong to a particular family. Also they're slimy and leech -like with anvil-shaped heads, which helps people get excited about being afraid of them. "The Hammerhead worms are part of a large group of flatworms that belong to the particular file of organisms," Carlton said. Hammerhead flatworms commonly called hammerhead worms occasionally make their way into the news because they're not native to many places in the world, and they're toxic and aggressive predators. Hammerhead worms earned then name because of the way their head resembles hammerhead sharks.
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