My niece says these worm like things are crawling around her back porch in Atlanta; are we being invaded?
Hammerhead Planarian? Not a good worm to have around...If that's what it is..... They eat earthworms...
Thanks CRC; I should have known that anyone that knew the words to "The Accident" would know right off when an Asian Planarian invades Atlanta.
CRC is a genius! here is a little more info. yes i googled CRC's answer. <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="95%" height="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=pageTitle vAlign=top width="100%" colSpan=2 align=left>Topic </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%" colSpan=2>Planarian, Land</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%" colSpan=2> An unusual worm may be in your garden that you need to know about. You also need to kill it. It’s the land planarian, a slimy iridescent flatworm with a hammer head. I once thought that it was a neutral animal in the garden – eating some beneficials and some pests, but that is wrong. Rather than helping control termite larvae, grubs and other pests, etc. it seems that it is only a destructive pest that needs to be gotten rid of. It only eats earthworms. Photo by Nadine Haefs. The predatory land planarian is no friend of earthworms. In fact, they are parasites that eat earthworms and can wipe out entire populations. It can stretch out up to 20 inches long, gliding along on a layer of mucus secreted from glands along its underside. This gruesome worm feeds by extending its throat out of its mouth and into the earthworm. Small bits of the earthworm is swallowed a little at a time. Land planarians are native to Indo-China, but are have been transported to many other parts of the world in the soil of greenhouse plants. They can survive in freezing climates but don’t do well in dry climates. They are primarily nocturnal, but can often be found out and about early in the morning especially on wet surfaces. They can also be found on the trunks of trees. Smashing this pest is the thing to do, except for the fact that it grows back from small pieces. A better solution is to spray with orange oil to completely destroy it and prevent return. Question: I have seen two types of land planarians in my neighborhood. Some are medium-brown and have two dark stripes and a hammer-shaped head. Another variety is dark brown with a pointy head. This type also seems to be thinner than the first type. Are the more abundant, darker, pointy-headed planarians beneficial? Incidentally, the planarians don't like being sprayed with the vinegar-orange-oil-soap solution that I use to kill weeds.J.S., Dallas Answer: Both types of land planarians, or flatworms, are destructive to earthworms so neither is beneficial. These flatworms are native to Asia but have been transported to other parts of the world in the soil of greenhouse plants. The vinegar formula you mentioned probably will kill them, but I always use a strong spray of orange oil. Melting flatworms completely is important because if they are chopped up, every piece will regenerate into a separate worm. More information see: creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/misc/land_planarians.htm </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
My Grandmother had a huge house in downtown Charleston, with a HUGE Garden....it was our job to take care of it ....if we wanted any allowance...I've seen those worms before.. (and I've seen John Prine in concert about 20 times...love his music... )
...and all along I thought rattlesnakes were bad! Man those are nasty...maybe time to get the ole flamethrowers out, like we used to use to burn weeds with! Propane tanks with a long hose and a long pipe on the end! Crispy them critters! I'd bet their ashes won't regenerate! Note: I did say: ASHES, not the other!
T3, read my post on these things! .22 shot shells are not an acceptable way to destroy these things! All you would be doing would be making MORE of the evil little crawlers. the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but, the truth! so help me God! [rofllmao]
Sorry Tac: "except for the fact that it grows back from small pieces. " now that'sci fi channel creepy!
