Worms secreting a toxin dangerous to humans have been observed in Ontario in recent days. The toxin emitted by the hammerhead flatworm or bipalium is one of the “most powerful in the animal world” according to an expert.
Few agencies overseeing or analyzing invasive species track the number of hammerhead flatworms. They’re here in Ontario, there’s no doubt
however declares John Warren Reynoldsa researcher born in Saint-Lambert who now lives in Ontario.
Dr. Reynolds is the author of more than 500 publications, the majority of which relate to oligochetology, the study of earthworms. Earthworms are one of the prey of hammerhead flatworms.
A resident of St. Thomas, Ontario says she found a worm in her garden. Several Ontarians have also reported spotting the species on the site iNaturalist. A user, to Newmarketnorth of Toronto, says he observed some over 60
in his yard this year.
This site is recommended by the Ontario Invasive Species Awareness Program, which is co-led by the Ontario government, although some people contacted by Radio-Canada believe it is not a reliable Source since users are not scientists or experts.
Hamilton and Guelph “,”text”:”Found in the Toronto area, Hamilton and Guelph “}}”>They are found in the Toronto area, Hamilton and Guelph
, lists entomologist Étienne Normandin, from the University of Montreal. In the summer of 2023, a resident of Westmount, Quebec, found around twenty of them in her garden.
According to John Warren Reynoldsworms have been in North America for more than 100 years, but climate change has caused them to be found further and further north of the continent.
Small children are at risk
Small children are particularly at risk if they find the worms in their yard, according to Étienne Normandin. If they put these worms in their mouth, even the small amount of tetrodotoxin in their mouth can affect the child’s digestive system.
he explains in an interview with Mornings without borders.
If [l’enfant] eats one, two or three, you may need to go to the hospital for treatment.
Ingestion of a worm is not fatal, mentions John Warren Reynolds, but it could cause nausea.
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Entomologist Étienne Normandin says the hammerhead flatworm can be dangerous to children if they put several in their mouths.
Photo: The Canadian Press / JASON FRANSON
Mr. Normandin recommends that adults handle worms with care. The amount of toxin is small, but precautions must be taken. You should handle these worms with gloves when they find them in your garden.
he said.
John Warren Reynolds suggests scooping up the worm with a shovel and placing it in a plastic bag, then letting it die.
Don’t cut them since if you cut the verse into six pieces, you will have six verses.
underlines Dr. Reynolds. The species can reproduce on its own and is hermaphrodite, he said.
The exotic plants involved
The worms, which come from Asia, arrived in the country via exotic plants, according to Étienne Normandin. These worms move when flower pots are transported
he summarizes.
In an article published in the journal Diversity and Distributions in 2022, researchers have established that the population of these worms could grow outside of Asia since the species can survive and reproduce in exotic regions
.
Their reproduction is worrying
, noted the authors of the article, since hammerhead flatworms predate molluscs and earthworms. These latter play an essential role in ecosystems
we read in the article.
One of the issues with the arrival of such species in North America, concludes Dr. Reynolds, is that they are not accompanied by their natural predators. In their natural environment, he notes, these predators control the population.
