Are the more abundant, darker, pointy-headed planarians beneficial? Incidentally, the planarians don't like being sprayed with the vinegar-orange-oil-soap solution that I use to kill weeds.J.S., DallasĪNSWER: Both types of land planarians, or flatworms, are destructive to earthworms so neither is beneficial. This type also seems to be thinner than the first type. Another variety is dark brown with a pointy head. Some are medium-brown and have two dark stripes and a hammer-shaped head. QUESTION: I have seen two types of land planarians in my neighborhood. A better solution is to spray with orange oil to completely destroy it and prevent return. Smashing this pest is the thing to do, except for the fact that it grows back from small pieces. They can also be found on the trunks of trees. They are primarily nocturnal, but can often be found out and about early in the morning especially on wet surfaces. They can survive in freezing climates but don’t do well in dry climates. Land planarians are native to Indo-China, but are have been transported to many other parts of the world in the soil of greenhouse plants. Small bits of the earthworm is swallowed a little at a time. This gruesome worm feeds by extending its throat out of its mouth and into the earthworm. It can stretch out up to 20 inches long, gliding along on a layer of mucus secreted from glands along its underside. In fact, they are parasites that eat earthworms and can wipe out entire populations. The predatory land planarian is no friend of earthworms. it seems that it is only a destructive pest that needs to be gotten rid of. Rather than helping control termite larvae, grubs and other pests, etc. I once thought that it was a neutral animal in the garden – eating some beneficials and some pests, but that is wrong. It’s the land planarian, a slimy iridescent flatworm with a hammer head. Print This Page Land Planarian (flatworm)Īn unusual worm may be in your garden that you need to know about.
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