Gardeners are being urged to kill non-native species of flatworms found in the UK, and have been warned not to touch them. The worms can kill native snails and earthwrosm - disrupting the local ecosystem - and can be aggravating to human skin, reports Glasgow Live.
Scientists say the arrival of the worms in the UK could be a threat to our farms and gardens. Taking to Instagram, Gabrielle Reith, who lives in Scotland, wrote: "UK folks...If you find a worm in your garden that looks like this then please kill them!
"They are the invasive New Zealand Flat Worm and kill our earth worms by wrapping round them and dissolving them into pink gloop!
"They hide under rocks or weedblock during the day so search there and check the bottom of pots when you buy any plants. Kill them by squishing or dropping into salt. Don’t touch with bare hands as the excretion can aggravate skin!
"I don't like killing anything but make an exception for these! We sadly have them in our garden now and the neighbouring farmyard seems to be ground zero."
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) have said there are approximately 17 species of land flatworms in Britain - four of which are native. Flatworms can be found in "shady and wet places" on the soil surface such as under pots, containers, tarpaulins, and leaf litter.
The RHS have also said that "the majority of the non-native flatworm species prey on earthworms, slugs, snails and other soil organisms. Australian and New Zealand flatworms are two species that have become established and widespread in Britain and Ireland.
"Both species specialise on earthworms and they can severely reduce the populations of some earthworm species and consequently affect the soil ecosystem.
"However, several other species had been accidentally introduced including two Kontikia species and there is evidence that non-native flatworms continue to be introduced including the Obama flatworm."
The worms are believed to be accidentally imported into the UK in pot plants.
