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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Bug-like Creatures/Objects Not Covered By BugGuide
Photo#67142
Kew Greenhouse Flatworm (Bipalium kewense)
Copyright © 2006 saturdaze

Kew Greenhouse Flatworm (Bipalium kewense)
Mission Canyon, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California, USA
April 26, 2006
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Contributed by saturdaze on 28 July, 2006 - 12:14pm
Last updated 11 May, 2008 - 8:58am

Kew Greenhouse Flatworm
I have seen these things crawling around on the sidewalk in Azusa CA. Are they dangerous?
… Robert Koops, 31 August, 2006 - 2:51pm login or register to post comments

 
Nope
This is a land planarian and they are completely harmless to humans. They are however voracious eaters of earthworms.
… Samantha Summar, 9 January, 2007 - 1:15pm login or register to post comments

 
Best not to handle them
They secrete neurotoxins that paralyze their prey while they devour them very slowly. Some have reported numbness or other sensations from handling them- not exactly life threatening, but might not be good if it got in the eyes.
… Chuck Entz, 3 July, 2009 - 1:08am login or register to post comments

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