They can secrete toxins that cause skin irritation upon contact.
Residents of Tennessee have been warned about an infestation of potentially dangerous invasive hammerhead worms. People magazine reported this on August 11.
According to the report, hammerhead worms—also known as hammerhead flatworms—can grow up to 40 cm long and resemble snakes. They are capable of secreting toxins that cause irritation if they come into contact with the skin.
As People notes, they also prey on earthworms, thereby disrupting the ecosystem. On August 8, Tennessee state officials explained that hammerhead worms are difficult to eradicate due to their regenerative abilities, advising that they be placed in bags with salt or vinegar to eliminate the invasive species.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this species of worm was introduced to the United States from Southeast Asia in 1891 via imported soil and subsequently spread across the country.
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