|
Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 23, 2014 17:57:03 GMT -5
In case you have already seen this, NEW CONTENT ADDED TO SECOND PAGE
Since I haven't been playing with rocks lately, thought I'd post something totally off the wall. I've lived here (SoCal) pert' near all my life, and have gardened for most of it. But I have never seen the likes of this until last week.
This predatory flatworm was found in my garden. This one is specifically Bipalium kewense (I think...). I had purchased a rosemary plant in a 2 gallon pot at Home Depot a few months back, couldn't decide where I wanted to put it. So for the time being, I just set it into the garden, pot and all. I went to move the nursery pot the other day, and there were two of these underneath it. I took a couple pics, and not knowing what they were, I put them back.
Only the next day did I research them online, and find out that they are not so good to have around, as they eat beneficial earthworms.
Generically known as land planarians, also "hammerhead worms" or "broadhead planarians."
Like an earthworm, they can retract and be only several inches long, or fully extend to a foot or more.
This genus can be IDed by the single dorsal stripe.
They live a life much like earthworms, underground or coming out when damp or after rains, only they leave sticky mucus trails more like a snail. Along with the muscles in its body, it also uses the sticky secretions to subdue it prey - the earthworms! It then feeds on them by "extending its pharynx out from its mouth on the mid-ventral portion of its body and secretes enzymes that begin digestion of the earthworm external to the flatworm. The liquefied earthworm tissues are sucked into the branching gut of the flatworm by ciliary action." (From Wiki) Ewwww!
It seems some people think they are innocuous, just another critter living in the soil. But due to their feeding habits, some biologists are concerned for the welfare of earthworms, that they may become extinct in areas where these invaders have become naturalized. It is thought that these immigrated from Asia, (maybe as long as 100 years ago) getting a free ride in the soil of potted plants. Pretty sure that's how these came to be in my yard.
My question for Mel Sabre52 is, how bad are these to have in my yard? Should I be concerned? I do have a LOT of earthworms in my garden, and they are good for aerating my clay soil. I also heard that you should not cut them up, as new ones form that way. One website I saw said that they will perish in a bucket of salty water. What are your thoughts?
Hope y'all learned something, I know I did.
|
|
marinedad
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2010
Posts: 813
|
Post by marinedad on Oct 23, 2014 18:31:01 GMT -5
YUCK! ICKY BAD!
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 23, 2014 18:57:24 GMT -5
Hi Jean been missing ya and now I've learned more about worms than I ever care to know did you know that worms were Darwin's passion? I think o that was the other thing being that you & I are about the same age I thought you'd think it was neat that I attended a 50 year grade school reunion just thought I'd mention it mostly
|
|
|
Post by snowmom on Oct 23, 2014 19:13:30 GMT -5
never heard of them. Fascinating! Are they an invasive species? had to look these little devils up. thanks for posting this! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipaliumthis can't be good. Invasive from Asia, 4 species known to populate various parts of the USA, I wonder if the things people use to deal with slugs would work on them. The wiki article mentions that several other devices have been tried to control them with little luck so far. Do you have an Ag. extension office near you? You might take a sample in to them, they may not be aware the species is in your area as yet. The description of their habits and abilities sounds depressing to those of us who would like to encourage earthworms. best wishes.
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
|
Post by Sabre52 on Oct 23, 2014 20:16:47 GMT -5
*LOL* used to see them quite a bit when inspecting nursery greenhouses. Came in originally on house plants from the tropics. We never worried about them much in Ventura County as they are simply not numerous enough in the wild to be much more than a curiosity. They take a few pest species too so probably the good about equals the bad and they do need kind of a warm moist micro-environment to really thrive. I know some folks think they are kind of icky but they are kind of cool and primitive looking too. Kind of a moving, living sticky board trap. Overall, I'm uncomfortable with any introduced species as you just don't know how numerous they will become without their natural controls from their home environment. Salt or salt water desiccates them just as it does slugs. We never had any property reported with enough of an infestation to warrant survey and eradication efforts and California's state pest rating system never rated them "A" or "B" pests which would trigger action.....Mel
|
|
|
Post by fantastic5 on Oct 23, 2014 20:51:36 GMT -5
I had a slightly shorter and wider species of planarians in honors high school biology. We carefully made a medial incision and bisected the head back just to the back of the spade shape to show they have a very primitive brain/nervous system that is capable of regeneration. The planarian simply regrew the missing sides resulting in two heads.
|
|
Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,572
Member is Online
|
Post by Mark K on Oct 23, 2014 21:13:44 GMT -5
dROP IT IN A JAR OF ALCOHOL. tHAT WAY YOU HAVE A COOL SPECIMEN. a COOL DEAD SPECIMEN. Dang it.
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 23, 2014 22:21:00 GMT -5
tequilla ?
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 23, 2014 23:48:26 GMT -5
Thanks all! Nice to know I'm not the only person who had never seem them.
Marinedad, yeah, I know what you mean. On the one hand, they are fascinating, but on the other, they are kind of freaky. Especially when you see them move, and their head totally changes shape!
Hey Ed, whatcha been up to? Sorry to have been neglecting my friends. My DH had back surgery last week, so things have been kind of busy. He had it on the 15th, his birthday. He picked that date for the surgery, because he said to get relief from his back pain would be the best present he could ever hope for. Can't tell for sure yet, but it seems to have relieved the shooting pains from sciatica. I loved your 50 year reunion Montebello rock heart, and great BIF from Beef, lol. Also glad you found it after losing it! No, I did not know that worms were Darwin's passion. He did like his finches, though.
Snowmom, I knew you would be intrigued! Thanks for posting the Wiki link, I forgot to do that. While searching the internet, I ran across a site that listed locations where they have been found. It said there were only three reported finds in San Diego. Agriculture is big business here, I've called on the extension office before. Probably a good idea to report it, as well as the name of the grower that the potted rosemary came from.
Mel, thanks for the info. I was sure you were the only one here that knew what they are. While they may help take a bite out of some of the other pests, I think I'll nip this possible infestation in the bud. I'm not too keen on introduced species, either.
So Ann, that was a surprise that you had dissected them. (I remember doing large annelid worms in high school!). I remember seeing one of those googly-eyed flat worms , must be related to these, but I think they were aquatic.
Mark, not knowing what they were, I put them back into the garden. Doh!! A couple days later after I had found out what they were, I looked for them, but only found a small one. It got squished. Will have to keep my eyes open for anymore.
Would not waste tequila on these darn things, they are the wrong kind of worms!
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
|
Post by jamesp on Oct 24, 2014 2:17:00 GMT -5
Never see them here in Georgia or Florida.
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 24, 2014 12:09:43 GMT -5
James, they have been found in both GA and FL. You just haven't seen one - yet.
link to davesgarden.com
I found another one in the garden this morning after watering. Into the trash can it went, followed by some salt.
|
|
|
Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Oct 24, 2014 12:41:10 GMT -5
I found some inhabiting the underside of some of my wet, dirty rocks. Only noticed them because the rocks were wet from all the rain.
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 24, 2014 12:54:23 GMT -5
drinking tequila a little early...no? mostly
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2014 14:44:48 GMT -5
wow! I never heard of those. Ever! I want some in my garden! They remind me of these. Peripatus is a predatory invert in a Phyllum all by themselves. The class is called "Velvet Worms". Because yours is from Cali, I like it better!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2014 14:50:29 GMT -5
wow! I did some googling. There are some really cool Bipalium. Because of color I am thinking you have Bipalium adventitium. Here is the google image search for that species. You be the judge as you have seen them in person and I have not had that pleasure.
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 27, 2014 23:58:22 GMT -5
wow! I did some googling. There are some really cool Bipalium. Because of color I am thinking you have Bipalium adventitium. Here is the google image search for that species. You be the judge as you have seen them in person and I have not had that pleasure. I believe the adventitium is considerably smaller. link
The ones I found look just like this: It has one thin stripe down the center, with wider brown stripes towards the edges. A slimy mess!
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
|
Post by Sabre52 on Oct 28, 2014 8:46:40 GMT -5
The native ones we had back in Commiefornia were small, maybe two inches long, and very dark, almost black. The tropical introduced ones like you've pictured were huge, up to eight inches or so and much more colorful and much more active too. They really zoom around for a flatworm.....Mel
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Nov 6, 2015 15:00:44 GMT -5
NEW CONTENT
It's not over yet! It's been just over a year (end of October 2014), and I have not seen any more of these guys. I guess all the rain we had (almost 2 inches Nov 3!), was too much for these ground dwellers. I have been seeing lots of worms on my walk that have come up for air. I imagine when the clay gets saturated, it makes it darn hard to breathe.
This morning, I saw what at first I thought was a dead/drying up earthworm on the cement walkway in my yard. What made it stand out was it had an extraordinary amount of slime surrounding it. (Photo taken after I had removed it.)
Got a close look at it, and, sure enough, it is one of the flatworms. Have to wonder how many of these are now lurking in my yard, eating my earthworms?
Yes, I am observant. Where this was found is probably less than ten feet away from the garden where the previous ones were found. They came in on a gallon pot of rosemary, produced by a local grower, sold by the Home Depot.
Just another one of those things.
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Nov 6, 2015 15:21:36 GMT -5
EEE-EWWWWWW! I have never had a problem with worms before. Hell, I used to love looking for night crawlers with my bucket and flashlight, but those things are NAS-TY! Just yuck.
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
|
Post by Sabre52 on Nov 6, 2015 17:19:03 GMT -5
Yep, they are very active predators. Talk about being slimed huh? As with most invertebrate predators, we are very lucky they are small *L*...Mel
|
|