EW! WHAT’S THIS!? The Hammerhead Worm…

 

It may LOOK like a snake, but it’s actually a worm! Hammerhead worms are invading Texas, and here’s what you need to know.

 

These worms can be easily identified by their strange, spade-shaped heads. They can reach up to one foot in length (but are commonly around 6-inches) with a dark stripe down their center. Originating in Southeast Asia and hitchhiking their way over on shipments of plants, they’ve multiplied and flourished here in the Lone Star State.

 

Why Should You Be Concerned?

There’s a couple reasons – the first being that these gross guys eat earthworms, which prevents the earthworms from keeping our soils healthy and nutrient-rich. If the earthworms go away, we could be looking at catastrophic effects on how our gardens, yards and crops grow.

 

The second reason is that these worms are the only terrestrial invertebrates known to secrete a neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin – the very same toxin found in pufferfish! While touching one of these worms won’t hurt you, your hands and fingers may go numb for a small period of time. It’s important to ensure you keep your pets away from them, too – eating one could make your sweet dog or cat fall ill for a day or two.
 

What should you do if you spot a Hammerhead worm?

Do NOT try and cut it in half with a shovel – this will just create TWO worms instead of one. Instead, place the worm in a ziploc bag with salt OR burn the worm (in a safe, contained environment). They tend to appear when we’ve had a good rain, so now is the time to keep an eye out.

 

What should I do with the dead Hammerhead worm?

Throw the ziploc bag away (or the burnt remains) and then email your location coordinates and sighting report to the Texas Invasive Species Institute at invasives@shsu.edu. You can also report it to your local County Extension Agency.