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Giant Predatory Worms Are Invading France (qz.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Quartz: In a Peer J study published on May 22, "Giant worms chez moi!" zoologist Jean-Lou Justine of the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris, entomologist colleagues, and Pierre Gros, outline a discovery that "highlights an unexpected blind spot of scientists and authorities facing an invasion by conspicuous large invasive animals." About 100 citizen scientists ultimately contributed to the assessment of this alien invasion, identifying five giant predatory worm species in France that grow up to 10 inches long. The study relied on contributors' worm sightings, reported "mainly by email, sometimes by telephone." Researchers requested photographs and details about locality. In 2013, the Washington Post reports, "a group of terrorized kindergartners claimed they saw a mass of writhing snakes in their play field." These were giant flatworms! The study concludes that the alien creatures appear to reproduce asexually. They prey on other, smaller earthworms, stunning them with toxins. "The planarian also produces secretions from its headplate and body that adhere it to the prey, despite often sudden violent movements of the latter during this stage of capture," researcher note. In other words, the hammerheads produce a substance that allows them to stick to victims while killing them. The study points out that invasive alien flatworms have been spotted in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, and Australia. But the five species of hammerhead flatworms invading France are giants, growing up to 27 centimeters.

8 of 250 comments (clear)

  1. Sauteed in butter? by Camel+Pilot · · Score: 4, Funny

    A few herbs and spices, feature as a delicacy problem solved.

    1. Re:Sauteed in butter? by mejustme · · Score: 4, Funny

      A few herbs and spices [...]

      Once upon a time there may have been a series of SF books about giant worms and spices...!

    2. Re:Sauteed in butter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nothing that you have quoted rules it out from being included in French cuisine.

    3. Re:Sauteed in butter? by zifn4b · · Score: 3, Funny

      Or we could just start mass producing Slurm

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      We'll make great pets
  2. On news of the invasion, by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 2, Funny

    White flags broke out across the country.

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    Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    1. Re:On news of the invasion, by allcoolnameswheretak · · Score: 1, Funny

      I for one am very grateful for the US intervention in WW2.

      Could you send your best worm-eating rodents to Europe, save us one more time, plz?

  3. Shai Hulud by Darkling-MHCN · · Score: 3, Funny

    The worm is the spice the spice is the worm!

    Let me know when these little guys get big enough to ride.

  4. Re:There are predatory things invading France by michelcolman · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes, and we should be tolerant of their intolerance, because otherwise we would be intolerant and that would be bad since we're white.

    I, for one, welcome our new intolerant overlords.