talbotlucas.org: a word to the wise is sufficient

When Wallace returns from his walks he always has "towel time": He lets us flip him on his back and onto one of our laps, and we towel off his tummy and feet. When you're as low to the ground as Wallace is, and the grass is high and frequently watered, it's a necessary post-walk step.

Recently on one of our late afternoon walks we came across several odd-looking worms. Long (~6"), sort of yellowish-brown with thin brown stripes running along the length of the body and a flat head. We looked at each other, said, "ew," and went on our way.

When Terrence and Wallace returned from their evening walk tonight, Terrence noticed during towel time that one of these same worms, but a much darker brown, WAS ON WALLACE'S TUMMY! I grabbed it off with a paper towel--it wasn't hooked on or anything, but its stickiness meant that it was tangled in Wallace's fur--and disposed of it. Wallace didn't seem to be bothered a bit, and although I generally like worms--especially earthworms and red wigglers that make the garden soil and the compost happy--this type gives me the creeps. So much so that I found myself, as the clock ticked toward midnight, searching the web for information.

Turns out we encountered a land planarian known as Bipalium kewense. There doesn't appear to be evidence that they are parasitic, but they eat earthworms. While I'm glad we don't have to have Wallace checked for parasitic worms, the fact that they eat earthworms does not please me. I do not like the idea of predator worms, and even less the fact of predator worms with flat heads and stripes.

These photos (from JoJo Zawawi's web site) are quite accurate reflections of what we've seen. More information is available from the University of Florida and from people who just like to identify bugs. To each his own, my father would say, although I know he'd also say "eew," too.