Toxic, hammerhead worms pose issue to Houston after excessive rainfall
Texas - It’s been a tough few months across the Houston metro between a deadly derecho, historic river flooding in May, and Hurricane Beryl in July, and now residents have one more thing to potentially worry about due to the excessive precipitation – invasive worms.
Enter the hammerhead flatworm, named for its – you guessed it – head that’s shaped like a hammerhead shark but rounded.
These light or honey-colored snake-like flatworms can grow up to 15 inches long and secrete chemicals through their skin that can be dangerous to humans and pets. They can also carry parasites.
So, why are residents in Texas being warned to be on the lookout for these pests?
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The Texas Invasive Species Institute (TISI) says they emerge from their hiding spots after heavy rain and can be found in the soil or on driveways, patios, and sidewalks.
Texas continues to be slammed by torrential rain and thunderstorms, which have caused rivers and streams to overflow and even turned some yards into lakes. This could lead to more people spotting the invasive species.
The hammerhead flatworm (Bipalium kewense) is believed to have been brought to the U.S. on plants from Asia and has been in the country for well over 100 years.
The TISI says they prefer hot, humid climates and usually spend their time under shrubs and out of the sun. They also like to hang out under leaves, rocks, and logs, and you may even see one under a dripping faucet.
Predatory 'hammerhead flatworms' have emerged in Houston area
**EDITORS NOte: This video is from a previous story. If you thought 2020 was the year of scary bugs, 2021 maybe even worse. Last year, we dealt with the murder hornets, the red velvet ants and we even had the flying snakes. Now we have hammerhead flatworms. Ashley Morgan-Olvera with the Texas Invasive Species Institute at Sam Houston State discusses what they are
"They live where earthworms live, so with the heavy rains, they tend to get flushed out," said Ashley Morgan-Olvera, the research director at the Texas Invasive Species Institute in a FOX Weather interview in 2023.
Here's where the problem lies, though.
The chemicals they secrete through their skin to aid in the digestion of earthworms are toxic. If humans or pets come into contact with that chemical, it can cause skin irritation and even health issues if it is consumed.
So it's extremely important to take the proper precautions if you see one and need to dispose of it.
The TISI says that gloves, paper towels, or a stick should be used when handling live hammerhead flatworms. Hands should be washed immediately in warm, soapy water and rinsed in alcohol or hand disinfectant.
In addition, the worms can be killed with orange essence (citrus oil) and salt – the same as with slugs and snails.
They can also be sprayed with citrus oil and vinegar, or just vinegar alone, which must be applied directly to the worm. It's also recommended that they be placed into a plastic bag that can be sealed with salt or vinegar so they don't crawl away after treating it.
It's also important to note that you can't kill the worm by cutting it up. The hammerhead flatworm can regenerate.
"So, if you cut them up into three pieces, it’ll become three new flatworms," Morgan-Olvera said. "So, that’s why we want you to make sure that when you remove them, it’s in a closed container, to make sure they can’t leave and populate."