Moth Question (Also looking for group FAQ)

[Anne Kilmer]

I breathe again. Paul is in Ocala, but his planarian is not the terrible
New Zealand one. And it's been here since 1901. 
University of Florida has a lovely web page: 
http://gnv.ifas.ufl.edu/~insect/misc/land_planarians.htm
 
there's a graphic picture of planarians eating an earthworm.
Of course, earthworms are also exotic in the USA ... but they're our
friends.
And, speaking of the ag people,
Please, folks, DON'T bring home plants or plant parts from your travels
unless you have all the permits and take all the precautions that your
country's agriculture people require. 
Honest, you're not special, you're not a privileged character, and
you're not going to be "careful". 
Of course the nursery people are all of the above, and are bringing in
new exotic pests every day despite their care, but let's not compete. 
I shall go out to the garden and breathe deeply until I recover from
this urge to stamp about shouting. 
yours
Anne Kilmer
South Florida

Anne Kilmer wrote:

> 
> Paul
> where are you? Is this the dreaded planarian that eats earthworms? Not,
> I hope, in the US of A. I knew it was in the British Isles ...
> Anne kilmer
> South Florida
> 
> "Paul D. Marsh" wrote:
> >
> > You nailed it, Stuart.  With your info I was able to track it down to
> > the species level -- Bipalium kewense.  The descriptions fit our
> > observation that these worms were only ever seen after a good rain.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Paul
> >
> > Stuart Roberts wrote:
> > >
> > > Paul D. Marsh <pdmarsh at mindspring.com> wrote in message
> > > news:38DD3697.21DDF752 at mindspring.com... among other things.....
> > >
> > > > I am having trouble identifying a number these, as well as
> > > > some other weird things, like a hammer-headed worm...
> > >
> > > This sounds like a species of Planarian. A free living class of
> > > Platyhelminth worms. I believe the beast in question originated in New
> > > Zealand. Stateside wormwatchers would be better placed to run it down to
> > > species than me on this side of the pond.
> > >
> > > Good luck.
> > >
> > > Stuart Roberts
> > > UK