The Natural State is under attack…by hammerhead worms! Slimy and carnivorous with cannibal-like tendencies, the newest invasive species in Arkansas is like something from a sci-fi movie.

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, Mother Nature proves you wrong. Not so sure? Meet the hammerhead worm.

Dinesh Valke/Wikimedia Easy to spot, they’re named for their distinctive spade-shaped heads.

It might look like something from your worst nightmare, but hammerhead worms are very real.

Thomas Brown/Wikimedia They’re also very problematic since they prey on earthworms, which are highly beneficial to the ecosystem.

Hammerhead worms aren’t just distinctive in appearance, though.

wikimedia.org Not your grandma’s earthworms, hammerhead worms are carnivorous, preying on slugs, snails, insect larvae, and earthworms. They’ve also been known to cannibalize each other. (Yikes!)

Native to tropical and subtropical Southeast Asia, hammerhead worms don’t belong in the U.S.

liz west/Wikimedia Now invasive worldwide, scientists theorize that the worms made their way to the U.S. by hitching a ride on plants imported from tropical countries.

Not a completely new invasive species in Arkansas, hammerhead worms have been reported in the Natural State for roughly a decade.

Wapcaplet/Wikipedia Though the worms are not new to the state, sightings have become more common in recent years. The state’s warm climate is ideal for hammerhead worms, making it easy for them to survive and thrive.

Hammerhead worms aren’t just hard to look at. They’re hard to handle, too.

Mariegriffiths/Wikimedia Hammerhead worms contain a potent toxin. If digested, the toxin will make pets sick. It can also irritate human skin, which is why hammerhead worms should never be handled without gloves.

If you come across a hammerhead worm, NEVER chop it in half.

Lexlex/Wikimedia Hammerhead worms regenerate, which means if they’re cut into pieces, each part will become a new worm! The best way to dispose of a hammerhead worm is to fill a container with salt, then, using gloves, place it in the container.

 

Dinesh Valke/Wikimedia

Easy to spot, they’re named for their distinctive spade-shaped heads.

Thomas Brown/Wikimedia

They’re also very problematic since they prey on earthworms, which are highly beneficial to the ecosystem.

wikimedia.org

Not your grandma’s earthworms, hammerhead worms are carnivorous, preying on slugs, snails, insect larvae, and earthworms. They’ve also been known to cannibalize each other. (Yikes!)

liz west/Wikimedia

Now invasive worldwide, scientists theorize that the worms made their way to the U.S. by hitching a ride on plants imported from tropical countries.

Wapcaplet/Wikipedia

Though the worms are not new to the state, sightings have become more common in recent years. The state’s warm climate is ideal for hammerhead worms, making it easy for them to survive and thrive.

Mariegriffiths/Wikimedia

Hammerhead worms contain a potent toxin. If digested, the toxin will make pets sick. It can also irritate human skin, which is why hammerhead worms should never be handled without gloves.

Lexlex/Wikimedia

Hammerhead worms regenerate, which means if they’re cut into pieces, each part will become a new worm! The best way to dispose of a hammerhead worm is to fill a container with salt, then, using gloves, place it in the container.

So, did you know about this invasive species in Arkansas? Ever spotted any hammerhead worms? If so, did you know what it was? Know of any other invasive species? Tell us.

Should you spot an invasive species in Arkansas, including hammerhead worms, report it to the Department of Agriculture.

Not all wildlife in is harmful. There are lots of cute creatures, too, including spring peepers, which make their presence known every spring.

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