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Florida Gardening

what in the heck kind of creepy worm is this??????

15 years ago

{{gwi:876604}}

I have seen this type over the yrs but never had the cam handy to snap a pic.

Creeeepy!

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Comments (8)

an_ill-mannered_ache
15 years ago
my dad was an entomologist...

Hammerhead Worm (land planarian) (Bipalium kewense)

it's quite useful in the garden. save one for me.

Here is a link that might be useful: hammerhead Worm
tony_k_orlando
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks ILL.

Many times I have wondered if that worm is some type of TAPEWORM ! I went back out to see if its still around and it was gone. Next one I see will be relocated out to your place.
Watch em not be seen for a while now....

I appreciate the ID.
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goldenpond
15 years ago
keep him in your garden or flush him!Ive worked too hard raising good earthworms for any earthworm eating monster to invade.
NASTY!
cindeea
15 years ago
Eeeewwwww Tony, why do you always get weird stuff in your gardens??

I like plain old earthy worms, thankyouverymuch!!
joyful_garden
15 years ago
OK, I googled this hammerhead worm. Here's what it said. I copied it from the website I went to.

This "worm" is usually only seen during very high humidity situations, such as a lot of rain. They are usually found in cool, dark, moist areas. They eat earth worms, slugs, snails, insect larvae, and are even cannibalistic. They usually move and feed at night. They can survive desiccation only if water loss does not exceed 45 percent of their body weight. They have been found commonly in American greenhouses since 1901. Their mouth, which also serves as an anus, is present near mid-body on the ventral surface.

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.

I just had to post this because I could not get over the fact that the mouth doubles as an anus. OK this means that he pukes out his poop!!! That is just gross!!!!
tony_k_orlando
Original Author
15 years ago
joyful_garden Imagine its BREATH! If it ever stops breathing, WHO is going to do mouth to mouth??
solstice98
15 years ago
The mouth/anus set-up is pretty disgusting, but anything that eats snails is welcome in my garden!
laura1
15 years ago
I've seen these things over the years and they are GROSS...even before you find out about their manure mouth! I thought these guys were like leaches or like Tony said~tapeworms. I've got plenty of slugs but I'm not sure these small guys could take on "Humongo Slug"

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