Skip to main content

Wandering broadhead planarian (Bipalium adventitium)

Wandering broadhead planarian Description: Introduced to the United States from Asia. Commonly found in suburban areas and nurseries where exotic plants are prevalent. Carries the neurotoxin, Tetrodotoxin, which may be used as a defense mechanism.

Identification: Grow to 5-8 cm. (2.0-3.1 in.) long, head is fan-shaped, yellow to tan in color with on dark dorsal stripe that does not extend over the head.

Habitat: Native to Asia. Can be found in gardens and woodlands under objects like leaf litter, where soil is moist.

Reproduction: Reproduces sexually with one breeding season per year. Eggs are deposited in capsules and after 3 weeks, 1-6 juveniles are released.

Impact and Damage: Preys on earthworms.

Similar species: Arrowhead flatworm (Bipalium kewense).

Credits: The information provided in this factsheet was gathered from iNaturalist.

Individual species images that appear with a number in a black box are courtesy of the Bugwood.org network (http://www.invasive.org). Individual photo author credits may not be included due to the small display size of the images and subsequent difficulty of reading the provided text. All other images appear courtesy of Google (http://images.google.com).


Common Name:

Wandering broadhead planarian

Scientific Name:

Bipalium adventitium

Family:

Geoplanidae
(Flatworm)

Habit:

Worms