Toxic, carnivorous, immortal worm is real and in Louisiana. Don’t worry

A slimy, carnivorous, poisonous, immortal worm seems like one thing from a science fiction film, or out of your nightmares, however it’s actual. 

Don’t be concerned although the hammerhead worm is extra hype than hurt. 

Chris Carlton, PhD, Director Emeritus on the LSU Ag Heart stated, “they are not harmful. They’re uncommon and sort of unusual, they usually gross folks out as a result of they’re slimy. However that is about it.”

The worm species is prevalent within the south and has made a house in Louisiana. Although you should not worry them, it does not imply they are not harmful, particularly in the event you’re an earthworm. 

“They’re predators,” Carlton stated. 

These worms have quite a few names mostly referred to as a hammerhead flatworm to shoveled worm, attributable to their form. These lengthy squiggly worms have flat heads the plunge out both aspect and might attain as much as a foot lengthy. 

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“The Hammerhead worms are half of a giant group of flatworms that belong to the actual file of organisms,” Carlton stated. “These terrestrial flatworms belong to a selected household. In North America, there’s in all probability 5 or 6.”

Carlton continued to say that Louisiana has multiple of those teams of flatworms. The most typical is Bipalium kewense which originated within the botanical gardens of the UK. 

These invasive species are native to Southeast Asia, and have an affinity to sizzling, humid places such because the southern United States area. 

Very similar to slugs, these worms are energetic at night time and after rain when the soil is moist. They are often discovered beneath leaves and in darkish areas. 

“These massive terrestrial flatworms crawl round, they reside in moist locations. You discover them usually below compost or below boards,” Carlton stated.  “They’re fairly fascinating.”

Why is that this species so essential?

The largest risk of the hammerhead worm is that it kills the great worms.

Hammerhead worms eat slugs, bugs, snails and earthworms. 

The earthworm is essential within the underground scene due to its function within the decomposition of natural issues, elevated soil aeration, water motion and plant progress. 

“This stuff have a small ecological affect on the issues that they are feeding on. Within the case of this widespread one which feeds on earthworms, many of the earthworms that we now have in Louisiana are literally launched as properly. So you will have a state of affairs the place you will have an launched predator feeding on launched earthworms. So, the online affect on the setting might be zero,” Carlton stated. 

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“They kind of wrap themselves round them (bugs), they usually digest them from the within out they usually principally drink the digested organism like a Slurpee,” Carlton stated. 

A hammerhead worm’s mouth is on the underside of the worm. So, when it attaches itself to the prey it produces an enzyme and toxin that immobilizes the creature and dissolves the creature.

Carlton stated, “it merely dissolves it and makes it virtually a liquid.”

What occurs in the event you are available contact with one?

Carlton defined, “In case you did are available contact with one, you must wash your arms as a result of they do produce a toxin. It would not have an effect on those who simply contact them. You would not wish to eat one, as a result of they do in reality produce a poison that they use in predation.” 

In case you plan to kill this worm assume twice earlier than making an attempt to chopping it up.  It’ll regrow no matter half it wants.  Reduce it into 4 items, you will have 4 new worms. 

One of the best ways to kill this worm is by sprinkling salt or vinegar on it. 

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Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Instances. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.