According to Gulf Coast News, residents in Collier County, Florida, are spotting an alarming new visitor in their driveways — the New Guinea flatworm, a slimy, invasive species that can pose serious risks to people, pets, and ecosystems.
What’s happening?
Originally from New Guinea, the flatworm likely arrived in Florida through potted plants, experts told Gulf Coast News. The worm was first detected in the state about a decade ago and has now spread across several counties.
William Crow, a nematology professor at the University of Florida, confirmed the sightings after reviewing video footage. “The video you showed me, those definitely look like they’re flatworms,” he said.
The danger goes far beyond their unsettling appearance. These flatworms can carry the rat lungworm parasite, which has been linked to meningitis. “They can get deposited in the slime produced by these animals on leafy vegetables,” Crow explained. “If people consume those, it can cause brain infections, meningitis, which is incurable and very painful.”…