Hammerhead Worm (land planarian)
Bipalium kewense
This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions:
Alabaster, Alabama
Arley, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Blountsville, Alabama
Clanton, Alabama
Dothan, Alabama
Helena, Alabama(2 reports)
Madison, Alabama
Mc Calla, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Ohatchee, Alabama
Titus, Alabama
Tuscumbia, Alabama
Vincent, Alabama
Camden, Arkansas
Conway, Arkansas
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Glenwood, Arkansas
Heber Springs, Arkansas
Jessieville, Arkansas
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Maumelle, Arkansas
Mena, Arkansas
Siloam Springs, Arkansas
Wilton, Arkansas
Anaheim, California
Canyon Country, California
Castro Valley, California
Ceres, California
Chico, California
Chino Hills, California
Citrus Heights, California
Cloverdale, California
Costa Mesa, California
Cupertino, California
Danville, California(2 reports)
Davis, California
East Porterville, California
Elk Grove, California
Farmersville, California
Folsom, California
Fresno, California
Galt, California
Gilroy, California
Grand Terrace, California
Hayward, California
Highlands-Baywood Park, California
Lake Forest, California
Lincoln, California
Livermore, California
Lodi, California(2 reports)
Long Beach, California
Los Angeles, California
Modesto, California
Mountain View, California
Novato, California
Oakdale, California
Porterville, California
Redding, California
Rocklin, California
Roseville, California
Sacramento, California(4 reports)
Salinas, California
San Carlos, California
San Clemente, California
San Diego, California(3 reports)
San Francisco, California
Stockton, California
Torrance, California
Vacaville, California
Whittier, California
Seymour, Connecticut
Belleview, Florida
Boca Raton, Florida(2 reports)
Bradenton, Florida
Brandon, Florida
Davenport, Florida(2 reports)
Deland, Florida
Deltona, Florida
Dunedin, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Mary Esther, Florida
Mount Dora, Florida
Ocoee, Florida
Oldsmar, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Palm Coast, Florida
Pompano Beach, Florida
Port Saint Lucie, Florida
Saint Augustine, Florida
Sarasota, Florida(2 reports)
Tavares, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
Athens, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Canton, Georgia
Carrollton, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Cornelia, Georgia
Cumming, Georgia
Dacula, Georgia
Dallas, Georgia
Douglasville, Georgia(2 reports)
Fayetteville, Georgia
Gainesville, Georgia
Jackson, Georgia
Jekyll Island, Georgia
Kennesaw, Georgia
Kingsland, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Midway, Georgia
Monroe, Georgia
Newnan, Georgia(2 reports)
Peachtree City, Georgia
Rome, Georgia
Sharpsburg, Georgia
Smyrna, Georgia
Snellville, Georgia
Stockbridge, Georgia(2 reports)
Tucker, Georgia
Winder, Georgia
Woodstock, Georgia
Honolulu, Hawaii
Kailua, Hawaii
Kaneohe Station, Hawaii
Kurtistown, Hawaii
Maunawili, Hawaii
Volcano, Hawaii
Wahiawa, Hawaii
Evanston, Illinois
Lombard, Illinois
Anderson, Indiana
Denham Springs, Louisiana
Gonzales, Louisiana
Harvey, Louisiana
La Place, Louisiana
Lacombe, Louisiana
Saint Martinville, Louisiana
Arnold, Maryland
Framingham, Massachusetts
Halifax, Massachusetts
Brandon, Mississippi(2 reports)
Fulton, Mississippi
Hickory Flat, Mississippi
Long Beach, Mississippi
Meridian, Mississippi
Moss Point, Mississippi
Columbia, New Jersey
Hewitt, New Jersey
Lincoln Park, New Jersey
Ithaca, New York
Petersburg, New York
Cary, North Carolina(2 reports)
Chadbourn, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina(2 reports)
Charlotte, North Carolina(2 reports)
China Grove, North Carolina
Clayton, North Carolina(2 reports)
Columbus, North Carolina
Concord, North Carolina
Fuquay Varina, North Carolina
Havelock, North Carolina
High Point, North Carolina
Holly Springs, North Carolina
Jacksonville, North Carolina
Kure Beach, North Carolina
Lewisville, North Carolina
Morrisville, North Carolina
Murphy, North Carolina(2 reports)
New Bern, North Carolina
Newport, North Carolina
Pittsboro, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina(4 reports)
Richlands, North Carolina
Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Sanford, North Carolina
Sherrills Ford, North Carolina
Waxhaw, North Carolina
Heath, Ohio
Lincoln City, Oregon
Altoona, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Boswell, Pennsylvania
Honey Brook, Pennsylvania
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Rincon, Puerto Rico
Cinisi, Sicily(2 reports)
, Sor-Trondelag
Cayce, South Carolina
Duncan, South Carolina
Easley, South Carolina
Florence, South Carolina
Fort Mill, South Carolina
Lancaster, South Carolina
Lexington, South Carolina
Mauldin, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
North Charleston, South Carolina
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Summerville, South Carolina
Walhalla, South Carolina
Westminster, South Carolina
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Collierville, Tennessee
Franklin, Tennessee
Hixson, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Kodak, Tennessee
Sparta, Tennessee
Arlington, Texas
Austin, Texas(4 reports)
Dallas, Texas(3 reports)
Desoto, Texas
Edinburg, Texas
Euless, Texas
Frisco, Texas
Hebbronville, Texas
Houston, Texas(4 reports)
Karnack, Texas
Katy, Texas
La Grange, Texas
La Marque, Texas
Longview, Texas
Marshall, Texas
Mc Kinney, Texas
Missouri City, Texas
Nederland, Texas
New Boston, Texas
Nome, Texas
Paris, Texas(2 reports)
Port Arthur, Texas
Porter, Texas
Sachse, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Spicewood, Texas
Spring, Texas(2 reports)
Webster, Texas
Fairfax, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia
South Hill, Virginia
Yorktown, Virginia
Lyle, Washington
Maple Valley, Washington
show all
Dgmom2581
CrystalMcWilliams
follyfarmgoats
Recently I built an outdoor worm compost area for some of my Red Wigglers. Today I found 3 or 4 Hammerhead Worms in the worm compost so I moved them to the regular compost pile and then found a couple more in there. They have been on top.
The eradication technique that has worked for me is to spray them with a vinigar water solution. They almost just melt away and have to be scrubbed up with a rag.
Juberry
Salted them, then put them n the trash they were discovered atop. Looked under some paver stones and found a nest. Salted them as well.
AliTaco
PeterSkillet
TN4meforever5
marycar
AliceFlem
DebsCoop
Dieman74
MarkTrail
MarkTrail
CarolinaGirl22
ashleysgarden
negative because of the claims in quick research about toxins where i'd rather play it safe, and not touch these (eek... photo of one on a finger)
They look like a worm but then slither more like a snake climbing up walls & fence.
I periodically see these and over the years went from 3-5 earthworms per shovelfull to rarely encountering one. almost exclusively in pots. that is purely anecdotal though, it might be all due to moles.
I have 3 types of snails that they are definately not keeping up with if its true they eat snails.
just dont touch or let pets play with incase!
there were claims if smushed the peices become individual slugs.
would be... read more
YankeeGarden
I was putting them into a bottle of soapy water to kill them when i swear one attacked me with a foamy substance
then i read they excrete a dangerous neurotoxin..i found a dead cardinal & wonder if it ATE one...a farmers site about raising chickens has a woman also swearing her chicken ate one & also died..
dirtdiggermary
Suedilly
T_Smith
Bookie28472
Riann
KarenCM
jenbug
dougnpatty
rrtucker
ct3fromLG
wormfinder
Bluebonnet100
harperwc
zmike1
coriaceous
The earthworms you know are not native to North America. They arrived from Europe on nursery stock. They are efficient at destroying the duff layer at the surface of woodland soil, which most of our native woodland perennials are adapted to growing in. European earthworms have had a major deleterious impact on the native woodland flora of eastern N. America---some conservation biologists (Bernd Blossey of Cornell is one) say a more serious effect than all the invasive plants humans have introduced. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/invasive-ear... read more
DaisyPlantLady
Location: Oakdale farm country, Stanislaus County, California
My daughter calls them all "Cindy", I think it was the "don't-know-what-it-is-so-I'll-give-it-a-name" thinking of a 5 year old. The name has stuck at our house. "Cindy Worms"
UmbralEquinox
JudyPage76
leadhead
CaityMarie
sweethollow
loomex
Jeffxlh
shores90
Blaurel
animike
dixxie
Baby9974
holmes1012
kmurph428
tbolt1
parker22
Edwin5050
Swaughtel
V13j0
Was just glad it was not a predator of humans, and have reported it.
Balsamic vinegar seems to have done the trick, nothing moving after a squirt.
So sad that invasive species find homes in the USA so easily.
Was under the impression that this invasive species would have been stopped at the border. Priorities are not what they should be.
missymoo1
fractalsky
playera
sallypsb
milesbatty
WormGuy17
honeylieg
Saucata
mustangr
I've lived here 16 years and have never seen one of these before. My first thought was that it was a type of leech because of it's broad-like head, flat appearing body and the way it moved about. Thanks to my 'google' search and Dave's Garden site here, I now know exactly what it was.
It is constantly humid and hot here in eastern N.C., and the ground wate... read more
DiznDat
Pickelpotpie
KrisKrin
furret
sriduttvnayak
icyryce4
JJAj
Kenlynt83
jtapp1
I assume that for every one that I see, there are a hundred in the ground.
Good website. Very helpful information.
NuggetUSC
gorgeairshow
I joined "Dave's Garden" and will enjoy it I am sure!
BREADMAN01
phantera
markums069
leia1711
dlaraway
DancingTree
Zoemommy
creepedout
I found this planarian in my house! I freaked out & thought my dog threw it up, thought it was a roundworm. After searching the internet, I believe it is the bipalium kewense. Bug was about 3 inches long, and had "goo" on it. I live in San Diego. I'm going to download a photo of it in a minute. I'm hoping it didn't come out of my dog!!
PoseyLover
carolynsuetoo
southernmomma
RotorRanch
More pics here: http://s185.photobucket.com/albums/x247/Rotorranch/Critters/...
Rotor
danberg36
TexasPuddyPrint
Tmacias
Leaper
alfu
jeeper186
rachelharris33
My husband and I just found one of these on our living room floor - don't know how it got inside, but we initially thought it was a small snake, and then we thought it might be some sort of parasite. Glad to know that it's just a worm-eater and not gonna try to take up residence inside of any of us! We have it in a jar with water right now, and I will take pictures and upload them tomorrow. Like others who've posted here, we've recently gotten a ton of rain. Our creature is grayish-brown with several black stripes going longitudinally down his body, and a freaky triangular head. It is approx. 8-10 inches long, but hard to tell since he seems to like being all coiled up. GROSS!!
seekerc
sunnee1
Dirtybird2337
outlaw18
dolphinboy2000
cediv
laineeden
I have lived and gardened in the central part of Arkansas for 20 years, and this year is my first year to encounter this nasty pest. We have extremely poor soil quality, and the earthworms are suffering from this pest. Plus, we are the proud parents of four Pomeranians. These nasty predators get stuck in the coats of our dogs, requiring us to cut them out. Nasty vermin all the way around.
BenjaminRB
petersonnb
Nancy
Jacksonville, NC
Unicornlady65
slrjr
jehman
CommanderKoenig
maggiesmom03
KreexRamoo
Also I am a collector and study entimology as a hobby.. If anyone could get some and send to me, I'd be more then happy to pay for them.I'd like to have em for observation and tests.
E-mail me @ [email protected] if your intrested.
lancesfinds
colaik
ysarfati44
Right after posting the above post I found another one coming in from under the door. Yuck! I have the heeby-jeebies now. I wonder if sprinkling salt or orange oil on my threshold will keep them out. Any ideas or comments would be welcomed. Thanks!
ashvlgrl
tsilke
GGK86
monica_mxc
darlafarmer
JRHunt
bama76
tucker6262
TheGreenPlumber
After researching online, we have decided to "off them", as we have an organic garden and have done our best to keep earthworms working hard. If there is a reason for NOT doing so, please let us know.
thanks,
Timothy
Cathyntx
cvlaw
Tecumseh57
woodelf60
kids5
Are they harmful to animals or humans. I have kids and don't want anything to happe... read more
thymes2bme
ddgunn
jdf04
skyebc1
mollimae
jake1983
CuriousCritter
erikfx4
organic1
caddogurl95
Lonlon
Jiny
STARCROC2000
rwhart
village1diot
kenju99
Astraya
It snapped around my leg it was about 12 inches long and as soon as it attacked I swiped at it and screamed... it fell apart immediately... but left a mark on my leg.... it was slimy and had black strips down its back and has a twoheaded or one head curved similar to the pictures here... I was on my porch which is a cool area from the sun and back driveway... I didn't know what it was and no one believed me that I had been bite by it...but because I had a mark the doctor put me on antibotics... my question is can this thing be dangerous to a human...like reproduce in us or something... that would be a horr... read more
cherva
lobla
and as we were watching this one we saw another one down
below. We had so much rain today we are even on a flood watch so it makes sense about the humid environment.
My first thought was that this was some kind of mutation so i googled it and found there's really such a species.
domgar
ddj0195
roybears
degauss
trinketsmom
ncgirliegirl
Revelations
MMinto
WJMPSL
maccionoadha
UPDATE: Orange oil will kill them. You can buy online Orange Oil Concentrate manufactured by Medina Orange Oil. I know Amazon.com carries it. You can find more places to buy, by Google-ling 'orange oil concentrate'.
pumoxy
JCTX
easterlilly
it was a yellowish brown color with a brown stripe down the back its the first time ive ever seen on and ive lived in Ohio
all my life
Xanxer
This photo was taken in Tokyo, Japan!
alyrics
yotedog
wormsci
A researcher (Pete Ducey) at the State University of NY (Biology Dept) is studying the spread and effects of these invasive flatworms. He welcomes questions and reports of sightings.
ami75
Greenraven
It was grey, 10 inches long, no stripes. The year was 1971.
TxSuzy
jostoich
KyWoods
spmellen
Magpye
This land planarian is slender and brown, with five dark longitudinal stripes; it can be large, up to 10 inches in length. The species is 'hammer-headed'. The head is shovel-shaped (wider than body) and there are numerous minute eyes along its border.
The species was discovered in 1878 in the greenhouses of Kew Gardens near London, hence its scientific name.
It has a wide distribution in warm climates. It needs a moist habitat and is usually encountered near outdoor water faucets, where the soil often remains wet. It original home is unknown but is possibly the Indo-Malayan region.
Flatworms are hermaphroditic. The eggs are encapsulated and affixed to objects in damp places. These are ... read more
DonnaA2Z
Colors of Florida species range from greenish-grey to brown with dark narrow stripes on the dorsal side. Sometimes they are yellow or blue in other areas of the country.