Posted on 04/28/2026 5:45:46 PM PDT by daniel1212
'Silent assassin Residents in Ontario, Canada, are warned to watch out for the toxic hammerhead worm, a non-native species ..
According to the Hamilton Conservation Authority, hammerhead worms are a toxic, non-native species that first appeared in Ontario in 2017. They are believed to have arrived in North America via the introduction of plants from Southeast Asia.
The term hammerhead worm encompasses various species of flatworms, also known as shovel-headed garden worms, which is a fitting description of their shape. They can grow between 5 and 10 centimeters in length and may exhibit multiple colors.
They are also toxic, releasing a neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin — the same substance found in pufferfish. While not fatal, this toxin can cause skin and eye irritation in humans and can be harmful to pets if ingested.
Hammerhead worms reproduce both sexually and asexually, producing an egg capsule that hatches in about 23 days, yielding up to eight offspring. They also have no natural predators, so controlling their spread is the best way to mitigate their damage.
Hammerhead worms eat earthworms, snails, and insects. Reducing the population of native species, like earthworms, can negatively affect soil health and nutrient cycling. If you come across a hammerhead worm, experts recommend using a covered hand, a stick, or a small shovel to pick it up, then placing it in a sealed container with soapy water or vinegar and salt. Dispose of them in the sealed container.
Smashing them or cutting them up is futile, as the segments can regenerate into fully-formed worms.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
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Look Out for Jumping Earthworms! An aggressive, introduced earthworm is negatively impacting our gardens and ecosystem. Find out how to recognize this invasive species and help limit its spread.
Jumping worms, also called crazy worms, are a relatively new invasive species from Asia but are rapidly spreading across the United States. They can be found in the Southeast, along the Eastern Seaboard, and in the mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and some Northwestern states.
There are still native species of earthworms in a few areas of North America, but in states where glaciation occurred, the native species were wiped out. Forests developed without them, but in time European earthworms appeared and began to burrow through the soil. As the tunnels were created, the earthworms mixed soil components and improved air and water movement. Unfortunately, both native earthworms and European nightcrawlers are now being displaced by the destructive jumping worms
Jumping worms, also called crazy worms, are a relatively new invasive species from Asia but are rapidly spreading across the United States. They can be found in the Southeast, along the Eastern Seaboard, and in the mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and some Northwestern states.
There are still native species of earthworms in a few areas of North America, but in states where glaciation occurred, the native species were wiped out. Forests developed without them, but in time European earthworms appeared and began to burrow through the soil. As the tunnels were created, the earthworms mixed soil components and improved air and water movement. Unfortunately, both native earthworms and European nightcrawlers are now being displaced by the destructive jumping worms.
These invasive worms are members of the genera Metaphire and Amynthas. They live in the organic matter or the topmost layer of soil. This upper layer of organic matter protects the soil from erosion. Many of the tree roots establish in this duff layer of the forest floor, and wildflowers grow. Jumping worms are ravenous feeders that quickly consume the organic matter and degrade the soil. Nutrients from their castings are rapidly released, with a small amount actually reaching the roots of plants. During heavy rainstorms, the nutrients are quickly lost, and the soil may be unable to support plant growth. There is only bare soil where there was once lush vegetation and wildflowers. When such a disturbance happens, it provides an opportunity for an invasive plant species, such as garlic mustard or stiltgrass, to move in. The structure of the soil is also damaged, and often, there will be voids under tree roots that are near the surface of the soil.
Jumping worms are an annual species—the adults die after the first freeze. The cocoons, which are about the size of a mustard seed, will survive the winter and hatch in mid-April after temperatures reach 50°F for a consistent period. One worm can produce many cocoons without mating. While the cocoons can survive winter temperatures, the hatchlings cannot survive freezing temperatures.
...
If you examine a worm close-up, you will notice the prominent band around the body of the worm called the clitellum, where cocoons are produced. On a jumping worm, the band completely encircles the body, is milky white to light gray, and is flush with the body. On European nightcrawlers, the clitellum is raised and reddish-brown in color and does not wrap entirely around the body.
..
How to Control Jumping Worms - https://extension.psu.edu/look-out-for-jumping-earthworms
Nobody wants to touch James Carville, anyhow.
Don’t know how much tetrodotoxin these worms have, but it can definitely kill you.
If I found them on something non-flammable then I would torch them.
He is serpent head, not worm head. But he is a wormy S.O.B. anyhow.
Put salt on them.
Here in Alabama I’ve only seen a few hammerhead worms over the last few years. I chucked one into a five gallon bucket and it climbed right up the side. When I find one now I stir up a fire ant mound and let them go at each other.
President Trump has tasked the head of DES (Dept of Earthworm Security) and ICE (Invertebrate Control Enforcement) to guard the northern border against these intruders.
Works for slugs and snails but my wife always complains.
That would be like King Kong versus Godzilla. I have never seen one in Texas.
What happens when you pour salt on them?
We could be brothers. That would be my remedy as well.
Think Wicked Witch of the West. “I’m melting, melting.”
Oh. Got it. 👍😎
Thanks!
LOL!! Just what I needed to diffuse this day..
I wonder if controlled burns would help control their spread.
We have A flatworm here that starts showing up around June that grows up to a meter or more. They are truly remarkable to find on the streets or in humid forested areas.
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