The Up-And-Coming Invasive Pest You Should Never Squish (It Just Makes Things Worse)

It is a warm sunny day, and you are working in your garden full of essential kitchen herbs. But then all of a sudden, you notice a strange, slimy creature popping through the soil. It is flat, glittering, and its head resembles that of a hammerhead shark. Now you could be tempted to think of it as an alien out of a sci-fi movie, but chances are you have just run into a hammerhead worm. Their unusual heads and often-striped bodies make it quite easy to recognize them.

However, the issue is not in identifying them. The problem is that these invasive flatworms have been quietly making their way across the United States and they're active predators, sometimes even cannibalistic. They will show up uninvited in yards, flowerbeds, and sometimes even in greenhouses to kill earthworms, insects, snails, and slugs, disrupting soil ecosystems and wreaking havoc in gardens, according to some experts.

What's even worse is that they produce a potent neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin. It is the same toxin produced by puffer fish, and it can cause extreme skin irritation, itching, or allergic reactions for humans on contact. So, should you squish them? Well, no!

While you might be looking for creative ways to repurpose an old shovel, using it to slice through a hammerhead worm is not recommended at all. They are the Deadpool of the flatworm world and have remarkable regenerative abilities. That means when a hammerhead worm gets sliced or squished, each severed piece of its body can regrow into a fully mature worm within a few days. 

But the bad news just doesn't end here. Hammerhead worms are hermaphrodites, which means that they have both male and female organs in a single individual. That means even a single hammerhead worm can quickly reproduce by laying eggs, fertilizing them on its own, and multiplying like rabbits. So, if you can't slice, cut them, or squish them, what can you do?

The solution lies in completely destroying these worms and removing them from the environment. Luckily you can do it with some kitchen staples. 

When it comes to killing hammerhead flatworms, the age-old easy vinegar trick to kill worms in your garden is a good solution. But proceed with caution. The first thing you want to do is to make sure that you safely get the worm out of the soil without crushing or cutting it in place. To do that, put on some gloves or use forceps while making sure not to touch its body. Once you get it out of the soil, there are a few things you do. The easiest way to kill it is to put it in a jar of salt, rubbing alcohol, or vinegar. That will kill the hammerhead worm almost instantly. 

If you don't have these items on hand, you can also freeze the worms in a sealed bag for 24 hours. Once it's dead, put it in the trash. Don't try to compost it or add it to garden waste. Lastly, clean any tools that were used to kill the worm and wash your hands thoroughly. Also, make sure the pets and kids stay away from the area until it's clean due to the toxins.