The biologists are warning about an invasion of giant predatory worms in French territories. The Phenomena has gone underreported for almost 20 years and poses a threat to fauna, especially to the earthworms.

A 5-year study of over 700 sightings of giant worms across French territory since 1999 was conducted by biologist Jean-Lou Justine, amateur naturalist Pierre Gros, and three other colleagues, their findings were published in the journal PeerJ.



The giant worms are all clones that reproduce asexually and native to Asia, the predatory creatures feed on earthworms with the help of a bioweapon known as "tetrodotoxin" which immobilizes their prey.

In total the team identified five species of giant worms in France and French overseas territories.

"We were amazed that these long and brightly coloured worms could escape the attention of scientists and authorities in a European developed country for such a long time,"

The Hammerhead flatworm can reach up from 20 centimeters to 1 meter in length (in the elongated state).

Recorded sightings date back as far as 1999, one family sent the team a VHS tape recording they made because the worm was so bizarre and uncommon.

Between 1999 and 2017, 111 observations of the hammerhead flatworms were made, many of them in the south of France where humid and temperate conditions are enough for the exotic worms to survive and prosper.

"Recently, a tendency to deny the risks posed by non-native species has emerged; in opposition to this denialism, we strongly believe that invasive flatworms, as active predators, constitute a danger to native fauna wherever they are introduced,"

The researchers warn that the giant worms pose a serious threat to fauna in their new surroundings.

Similar invasions in Scotland and Ireland reduced yields of agricultural grass by 6 percent, causing great problems to farmers.



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