No worms on my veg patch!

[Claire72]

Blimey, never heard of that at all! got loads of worms here, so hoping none of the nasties come my way!!!

[SarzWix]

You 'can' replace the native worms - from fishing tackle shops,or, companies like Wiggly Wigglers. But I would recommend trying to find/control the flatworms first. Not sure what you could do to 'get rid' of them? I'd be tempted to chuck them on a bonfire... You certainly don't want to be introducing them to anywhere else... I wonder if they drown?

And kiwirach, I agree - Bleeeuuurrrgghhh!!!


If you find one, these people seem to want to see it?: http://flatworm.csl.gov.uk/gotone.htm
They might be able to tell you how to get rid...

[SarzWix]

Here you go:

There are no approved chemical controls, but Ground and Rove beetle adults and larve are known to prey on the adults. Birds have taken them as well, but because of their habitat they are rarely exposed to them. By adding lots of organic matter the population of earthworms can be improved. It is possible to trap the flatworms by laying sheets of black polythene, or placing bin-bags of compost around and collecting any which congregate underneath. They can be moved to another site accidently if they cling to a bag or plant pot - farmers have been moving them around on the large polythene-wrapped silage bales. Chopping them up may not be enough to kill them as I have seen small pieces crawling away, although I don't know how long they would have survived as I didn't give them the chance! So grind them up between two stones, add to very salty or boiling water, or burn them - better still, do all four.

from: New Zealand Flatworm

[Snadger]

If you haven't found any flatworms maybe we are scaremongering too much and there are other reasons for the shortage of worms!

Just a thought!

[gillian62]

My chickens love worms, slugs and snails. Now I'm thrilled to get rid of the slugs and snails, but think the worms would be best left in the ground. lol.

[chris]

Those flatworms would have a hard job eating the size of the worms in my garden.. They're *huge*.

I will have to get a pic of one of them.. remember honey I shrunk the kids? Wormy in that? Not a patch on mine! :P

[Liza]

Those flatworms would have a hard job eating the size of the worms in my garden.. They're *huge*.

I will have to get a pic of one of them.. remember honey I shrunk the kids? Wormy in that? Not a patch on mine! :P

Stop showing off !

[Paulottie]

Goodness....what a horror!....massive earthworm populations on well drained land here thankfully.

Its bad enough trying to keep out woodboring rainforest beetles with timber imports and then they are going to release something to eat Japanese knotweed next....see that one going tits-up too.

saw 30 native ladybirds on redcurrants to one harlequin yesterday so that is positive.