Q: The azaleas and rhododendrons in our yard do not seem to be very healthy, and have few green leaves and very few flowers this spring. These worms can be killed with salt, vinegar or rubbing alcohol. If you would encounter one of these worms, it's recommended that you wash your hands thoroughly, because the hammerhead does produce a toxin used in attacking prey. These worms reproduce asexually, so gardeners who encounter them should not attempt to kill these worms by cutting them, as this act will just result in two worms! The long-term consequence of these worms in our Ohio ecosystem is not yet known, but they have not been found to be harmful or beneficial in other states that have had them for many years.įlathead worms vary in size from an inch or less to 12 inches long. They can be brown or black and are slimy and shiny in appearance and can have a distinct crescent-shaped “hammer head”. This species of worm is thought to be invasive because it feeds on our beneficial earthworms as well as snails, slugs and insects. The worm is believed to have spread to Ohio in the movement of soil or potted plants and nursery stock from states in the southern part of the country. Populations of these worms have become established in southern states in the United States. The worms are native to countries in Asia, Africa, Australia and South America. These worms have not been found in central Ohio.
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