

Keep in mind that there are several varieties of land planarians. This means that they will stick to just about any surface that’s wet or moist, as well as on tree branches and trunks. They are nocturnal however, and they love wet surfaces. While this unique worm can survive in scorching hot to freezing climates, they may suffer somewhat in drier regions.įlat worm sightings are common in the early morning hours, especially after a hard rain. For the most part, flat worms can survive just about anywhere, so no one region is 100% safe. The flat worm is native to Indo-China, but it makes its way around the world by traveling in greenhouse plants. The body secretes mucus from glands on its belly or underside. The flat worm can reach up to 20 inches long and its body is very slimy, which allows it to move along the ground in a gliding motion. It melts the earthworm’s body with an enzyme and slowly eats it until the earthworm is completely consumed. The flat worm is considered a parasite and it devours its only prey by pushing its throat outside if its mouth and snapping up any part of the earthworm’s body. They actually kill and eat earthworms, exclusively. The flat worm does not help to control other pest populations as most worms do. One such worm is the flat worm (land planarian). While most garden worms are helpful, so they should be left alone, there are some that are dangerous and should be eliminated. They can also help mix the earths soil by burrowing into the ground or even writhing around in topsoil. Most garden worms help to control destructive termite larvae and grubs, as well as other destructive garden pests. In general, most garden worms are quite harmless and in most cases they can be beneficial to your garden, plants, and trees.
