Digging up information on hammerhead worms

A hammerhead worm

As spring weather moves into South Mississippi, many residents will take to sprucing up their gardens or begin their planting.

Digging in the dirt usually turns up a few bugs and worms, but one that looks a little unusual may also be found — hammerhead worms.

The invasive species is native to the tropical areas of Asia, Australia, Africa and South America, but have been in South Mississippi for some time, said Christian Stephenson with the Mississippi State Extension Service.

The worms can grow up to 12 inches and have a distinctive shovel or hammer-shaped head. They most commonly can be found under rocks or in leaf litter where it is humid. Greenhouses are a favorite dwelling spot.

Stephenson said the worms are usually dark brown, orange or yellow and some have a lighter-colored underbelly or a stripe down their backs. They also have a distinctive slime-like substance that not only helps them move, but also is used to prey on their favorite meal of earthworms. The slime contains a toxin that immobilizes the earthworm so the hammerhead worm can eat.

The toxin in the slime is generally not dangerous to humans, but can cause skin irritation, so if someone comes into contact with a hammerhead worm, they should wash the slime off thoroughly, Stephenson said.

The worms also reproduce asexually. Their body breaks off a piece which then grows into a new worm. So that means if a worm is chopped into pieces, each piece will then grow into a new worm.

Lastly, hammerhead worms generally are not present in numbers big enough to harm the earthworm population. Also, they can die off during the winter.

If you find a hammerhead worm in your yard and want to eliminate it, the best way is to pour salt on it.