This method has been shown to kill flatworms without damaging the roots of plants. New Guinea flatworms are not a protected species in Florida, and property owners may treat soil on their own property in natural areas and in potted plants that contain flatworms by soaking with hot water (between 109-120 degrees Fahrenheit) for five minutes.

How can I remove New Guinea Flatworms on my property? To see if New Guinea flatworms have been reported from a certain county, check the county distribution map. However, reports from counties where this species has not yet been observed are useful to researchers and should be reported online at. The FWC is aware that New Guinea flatworms have spread to many parts of Florida, and people do not need to report sightings from counties where the species has already been observed. New Guinea flatworms are not protected in Florida and the FWC encourages people to remove this nonnative species on their own property. What should I do if I find a New Guinea Flatworm? Direct handling of the flatworm should be avoided to prevent the possibility of parasite transmission and to avoid skin irritation from their stomach secretions. New Guinea flatworms may regurgitate stomach contents upon handling, causing skin irritation. Eating raw or undercooked snails or slugs or raw produce that contains small snails or slugs is the most common method of infection in humans. Humans are unlikely to be affected by the rat lungworm parasite since transmission of the parasite can only occur through ingestion. While New Guinea flatworms pose a potential health threat, they are no more dangerous than the native species of invertebrates that can carry the rat lungworm parasite. The lungworm parasite can also be carried by native species such as snails, slugs, and freshwater shrimp, crabs and frogs. New Guinea flatworms are a potential host for the rat lungworm parasite which can be transmitted to humans, however, no cases of rat lungworm infection in humans have been confirmed in Florida. New Guinea flatworms can potentially consume native snails in Florida, including threatened and imperiled species. These flatworms are known land snail predators in Japan and have also caused the decline of Hawaiian tree snails in Oahu, Hawaii. New Guinea flatworms feed on snails and other terrestrial invertebrates. Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network.Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.Report injured, orphaned or dead manatees.Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc.

Flat worms