Posted on 06/15/2026 5:20:25 AM PDT by Red Badger
A county park official says the worm was spotted in Cliff Cave Park along the Mississippi River. (Photo courtesy of St. Louis County Parks and Recreation)
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — An invasive hammerhead worm was reportedly found earlier this week at a St. Louis County Park for the first time.
A county park official says the worm was spotted in Cliff Cave Park along the Mississippi River.
These flatworms originate from Asia and can harm the local ecosystem by preying on native earthworms, which are essential for healthy soil.
They are usually seen after heavy rains, hiding under logs, rocks and leaf litter, according to St. Louis County Parks and Recreation.
Hammerhead worms can also release toxins that irritate skin and can make people and pets ill if eaten. Avoid cutting them, as they can regenerate.
To safely euthanize a hammerhead worm, officials say to place it in a sealed bag, using gloves or a shovel. Add vinegar, rubbing alcohol, salt or soap water to the sealed bag or place it in the freezer for 48 hours.
Then, dispose of the bag in the trash.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipalium
Toxicity
In 2014, the presence of tetrodotoxin, a very dangerous neurotoxin, was recorded in B. adventitium and B. kewense.[17] It is the first record of tetrodotoxin in terrestrial invertebrates.
> These flatworms originate from Asia… <
International trade is just the best thing.
Usually. I guess.
Anyway, thanks for the post RB. Knowledge is power, as they say.
a little Bacon in the morning…
Another gift from China.
And most of southeast Asia and India.........
IF THIS WORM HAS THOSE TOXINS-—WHY DISPOSE OF IT IN THE TRASH???
SAME QUESTION ABOUT “UNUSED DRUGS”.
FLUSHING THEM DOWN THE TOILET ONLY ADDS THEM TO OUR WATER SUPPLY.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS.....
I would burn them................
Just remember if you see one do not touch it barehanded...........
My bet is that some Cantonese restaurant brought them in as part of the menu.
They may have been intentionally dumped here.............
During Covid I was sitting at my desk and a cockroach fell onto my head and onto my desk… I had a clear plastic cup that I quickly covered it with and used a piece of paper to turn the cup over. The next task was to kill it, but how? On my desk was the hand sanitizer. I removed the paper and squirted a couple squirts of the alcohol sanitizer into the cup and the cockroach was dead within minutes! I would say the alcohol sanitizer will probably kill these worms like it did to the cockroach.
My solution...
Break out the hibachi.
Problem solved.
For bleep's sake, they're not Old Yeller. Just turn 'em to ash.
Nuke them from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure..............
It’s getting to where I’m afraid to go outside anymore.
Thanks for the heads-up on these things. I agree- just burn the damn things.
When I was a kid we had trees that would get tent caterpillars almost every year. All we could do was cut the branch they were on and burn it.
“When I was a kid we had trees that would get tent caterpillars almost every year. All we could do was cut the branch they were on and burn it.”
We did too!..............
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