The Hammerhead Worm

[Heel n Toe]

Saw this posted on Facebook... I looked it up and these claims seem to be true. The advice on the toxicity is good to know.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipalium
_________________________________________
As we go into planting season, my Southern partners, please be aware that
the USA has an invading species of worm called the Hammerhead Worm and
they need to be killed ASAP.

They are indigenous to Southeast Asia and are currently in Alabama, Georgia
and parts of Florida and South Carolina.

Don’t cut it into 10 pieces cuz it will grow 10 more worms (they are immortal).
YOU MUST dissolve in salt and vinegar in a jar for a few days. You can also
freeze the worm if you’re not about to kill it alive before dissolving it.

DO NOT TOUCH THEM WITH YOUR HANDS. They are believed to carry an
incredibly potent tetrodotoxin, which is also found in pufferfish. Use gloves
when handling, and do not make contact with your skin.

#safarmmanagementservice #HABITATSYSTEM #GROWINGBIGDEER
#planting #hammerheadworm

[ramonesfreak]

Sounds like it’s a giant planaria, looks similar too

[KFC911]

That's one ugly azz snake

[Crowbob]

If I came across one of those, there is significantly less than zero chance that I would touch it even with somebody else’s hands.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

If I came across one of those, there is significantly less than zero chance that I would touch it even with somebody else’s hands.

I'm usually one to lend a hand..... but you best summon the sammich maker

NOPE ... no chance I'd touch it!

[herr_oberst]

The Hammerhead Ale

[masraum]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

Sounds like it’s a giant planaria, looks similar too

From wikipedia

Bipalium is a genus of large predatory land planarians. They are often loosely called "hammerhead worms" or "broadhead planarians" because of the distinctive shape of their head region. Land planarians are unique in that they possess a "creeping sole", a highly ciliated region on the ventral epidermis that helps them to creep over the substrate.[2] Several species are considered invasive to the United States,[3] Canada, and to Europe.

And as I was thinking, there are several species, and not all are invasive. Presumably, not all are dangerous.

I've seen them before. When we lived in the 'burbs, I ran across them a handful of times, very long and very thin. Ugly suckers.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

If I came across one of those, there is significantly less than zero chance that I would touch it even with somebody else’s hands.

Originally Posted by KC911

I'm usually one to lend a hand..... but you best summon the sammich maker

NOPE ... no chance I'd touch it!

Like I said, I've run across them before. I never touched them with my hand. I've always used a stick, leaf, etc....

The examples that I ran into from memory, were probably ~2-3mm thick at the body, and had heads that were probably 4-6mm wide, so quite thin. But they were surprisingly long.

[Rusty Heap]

I'd rather handle that with gloves over getting in a scrap with a Bobbit Worm!

https://www.google.com/search?q=bobbit+worm&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS943US943&sxsrf=ALiCzsY9Gn28m9QSBmRx1uOaiLuhmUu2zw:165651030 4434&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj8q4zi5dL4AhVnJEQIHQUkDSYQ_AUoAnoECAIQB A&biw=1920&bih=969&dpr=1

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

I'd rather handle that with gloves over getting in a scrap with a Bobbit Worm!

https://www.google.com/search?q=bobbit+worm&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS943US943&sxsrf=ALiCzsY9Gn28m9QSBmRx1uOaiLuhmUu2zw:165651030 4434&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj8q4zi5dL4AhVnJEQIHQUkDSYQ_AUoAnoECAIQB A&biw=1920&bih=969&dpr=1

Looks like something out of an 80s sci-fi movie! 4" up to 10' long (yes 'feet'). And can bite some prey in half (hence the name).