Recent weeks of heavy rainfall have triggered an outbreak of massive, toxic hammerhead flatworms in North Texas, alarming many local residents.
“It was terrifying, like these are truly the end times, even the worms are demonic,” said Keller resident Adam Ingle in an interview with NBC5. The worms have been sighted in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas.
NBCDFW
Named for their distinctive, flattened, hammer-shaped heads, these invertebrates can grow up to a foot in length. They secrete neurotoxins that may irritate human skin upon contact and can be harmful to pets if ingested.
Beyond their toxicity, hammerhead worms are also considered an environmental threat. They prey on native species such as earthworms, which play a crucial role in maintaining healthy soil.
Originally from Southeast Asia, hammerhead flatworms were first introduced to the U.S. in the late 1800s. Since then, they have spread across much of the country, with sightings reported from the Pacific Northwest to New York. Though they’ve been present in Texas for decades, recent weather conditions have brought them back into the spotlight.
Typically, these worms remain underground and avoid sunlight. However, the recent downpours have driven them to the surface, where they have been captured in several viral TikTok videos.
In one video, the worms can be seen writhing on the soil’s surface, evoking comparisons to the creatures in the film Tremors. Another clip shows a large specimen crawling across an envelope, while a third depicts one inching across a screen.
“Houstonnn we have a problem!!” the poster wrote in the caption. “You don’t want this guy in your garden or near your pets!”
@demiallahmaunangis nampak lawak kan? tapi benda ni bole buat kita pejamkan mata dan bayangkan muka walid #walid ♬ tob tobi tob – 🏔️ｗｓｓｚｘｘｘ🇪🇺
Unfortunately, eliminating this tiny terror is no mean feat — chopping them in half only increases their numbers as they reproduce asexually.
“Don’t kill it, don’t squish it, don’t cut it up, because it makes three or four more worms,” warned Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, per NBC5. “Tear it in half, now you’ve got two worms.”
Craig – stock.adobe.com
To dispatch hammerhead worms, experts advise bagging the worms and freezing them for up to 48 hours or leaving them in a salt and vinegar solution.
Due to their toxic nature, homeowners should avoid touching them without wearing gloves or other protection, even if they’re already dead.
Source: nypost.com