Flatworm (possibly New Guinea Flatworm)

Natural Habitat

Naturally found in leaf litter, humid soils, and under rocks/logs in tropical environments; invasive in gardens and greenhouses worldwide.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous predator; specifically hunts land snails, slugs, and other soil invertebrates using a chemical tracking method.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and highly mobile; it tracks the mucus trails of its prey. It reproduces sexually but is a hermaphrodite, allowing for rapid population growth in new environments.

Risks & Benefits

Major ecological risk as an invasive species that decimates native snail populations. Can also carry the rat lungworm parasite (Angiostrongylus cantonensis), which can cause meningitis in humans if the worm is handled or accidentally ingested.

Identified on: 3/13/2026