![]() ![]() ![]() “Because they reproduce asexually, if you try to get rid of them by cutting them in half, you will only make more worms,” Kesheimer said. Katelyn Kesheimer, an Alabama Extension entomologist, said it is important to realize that these worms reproduce asexually. Control Optionsīecause they feed on beneficial and native garden creatures, knowing how to control hammerhead worms is key for Alabama gardeners. “However, if temperatures rise and the amount rainfall decreases, populations will crash, and the worms will become more elusive in our environment.”Īccording to Shrader, greenhouse environments offer these worms favorable conditions, so they may be found in those environments year-round. “If there is adequate moisture, we will continue to see hammerhead worms,” Shrader said. Because they thrive in humid places, moisture is an important factor to them. Some of their favorite hiding spots include in leaf litter or under rocks, logs or shrubs. The places in which you may find hammerhead worms can change depending on the weather. The recent rains and warmer temperatures have enticed them to wander into gardens and yards in search of prey.” “In Alabama, this spring has been perfect for these worms and is likely the reason many homeowners are seeing them out and about. “Hammerhead worms thrive in hot, humid environments,” Shrader said. With their predatory and cannibalistic nature, hammerhead worms’ prey mainly consists of other annelids, such as the common earthworm. Also, this worm can have between one and five dorsal stripes on its body. Its body can be as long as 15 inches but is more commonly between 8 and 12 inches. ![]() This worm is also much larger than other worms homeowners may be familiar with. “While this pest is new to some, it has been in the United States since the early 1900s, when it was accidentally introduced from imported horticultural plants,” Shrader said.Īs its name suggests, the most prominent feature of the hammerhead worm is the hammer-like shape of its head. Meredith Shrader, an Alabama Extension entomology diagnostician, said although the hammerhead worm was a hot topic last year, they have been around for a while. With the arrival of spring temperatures, Alabama Cooperative Extension System professionals say these worms are back and here to stay. Last year, the gardening world was set ablaze with the hot topic of the hammerhead worm-an invasive flatworm. ![]()
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