Invasive Hammerhead Worms Are Spreading Through The South
A new report says carnivorous, cannibalistic hammerhead worms are making the rounds in lawns across the South.
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System report published Thursday says the worm has a head similar to a hammerhead shark. The invasive species from tropical regions somehow made it to several hot, humid states mostly throughout the South.
The hammerheads eat earthworms which isn’t such a good thing since earthworms enrich the soil. Luckily, the hammerheads do have predators such as amphibians which feed on the hammerheads and keep their population in check. They usually are out in the grass after a rain.
Whatever you do, don’t pick up the worms barehanded or let pets near them. The hammerheads produce a toxin which researchers still don’t know all the details as to what effect it has on humans and pets. It does cause skin irritation at the least.
Source: WHNT
