A long, flat worm with a shovel-shaped head gliding across your patio is not a hallucination — it is a hammerhead worm, one of the world’s most unusual invasive species. Originally from Southeast Asia, these predatory flatworms are now appearing in gardens across multiple continents. While they pose no direct danger to humans, their impact on local ecosystems is a growing concern for scientists and gardeners alike.
En bref
- —Invasive flatworms from Southeast Asia now found worldwide
- —They prey on earthworms, damaging soil health
- —Cutting them in half makes the infestation worse
A Creature Straight Out of Science Fiction
Hammerhead worms belong to the genus Bipalium, a group of terrestrial flatworms whose name derives from the distinctive wide, flattened head that closely resembles the shape of a hammerhead shark. Most individuals grow between 8 and 12 inches long, though some species can reach even greater lengths.
Continue on the next page:
