It’s time to declare war on New Zealand flatworms – total war. For me, they have replaced slugs as public enemy number one. Slugs only attack some of the crops we grow. NZ flatworms threaten to annihilate our earthworms. They are also as ugly as sin and ooze evil from every pore. There can only be one plotters’ response – EXTERMINATE!
Bruce on flatworm patrol
Why so now? I suggest two reasons. Firstly, a recent Conversation Newsletter Article (link coming up below) spelt out the importance of earthworms for healthy soil and plants, and the environment generally: and we all know the threat NZ flatworms pose to our earthworms. In summary, the article says earthworms are:
- brilliant organic matter recyclers and wormcasts contain key nutrients
- tireless engineers improving soil structure and condition
- good indicators of soil health and toxicity levels
- a food source for many species, so adding to biodiversity
- expert restorers of damaged or neglected soils.
Earthworms are the good guys and our friend’s enemies are our enemies.
Secondly, research shows that some modern practices and tendencies in plot management seem to favour the NZ flatworm. For example, I have started to use plastic membranes and carpet as weed inhibitors and winter soil protectors and these are known to encourage flatworms.
It seems unlikely that we will ever be able to completely defeat and remove our flatworms. Recent Aberdeen University research reports (links below) show that flatworms are present on 70% of our plots and 90% of Slopefield’s plots are infested. However, there are lots of actions we can take to reduce flatworm numbers. This may tip the balance back in favour of our earthworms.
Actions against NZ flatworms include:
- removing clutter and flatworm refuges from our plots. These are flat stones, plastic, wood, carpet and fabric
- set up flatworm traps using the above and check them on a regular basis
- kill trapped flatworms with lemon juice or drowning in salt water in secure containers
- add organic matter to encourage earthworms
- use grass paths to support earthworms
- exercise strict bio-security to avoid spreading flatworms to new areas
When our plots were surveyed by researchers they found that flatworm refuges were found on many plots. Eighteen plots had a small number of refuges; 14 plots more than a small number; 14 had many refuges and only 1 was refuge-free. The number of flatworms found increased with the number of refuges and carpet was found to be the worst source of flatworms, followed by plastic, fabric, stones and wood in that order.
So what is to be done? In the first instance, I am going to stop using carpet to suppress weeds. I am going to do a big Spring tidy up, removing clutter. I am going to set my flatworm traps and check them regularly. I already keep a lemon squeezy on site. I should also replace my central slab path (built up over many years as free slabs became available) with a grass one, but this is a big job and a sore one.
Know your enemy
So, I hope this can be a big focus for us over the year ahead. If you want to read more about the NZ flatworm threat and responses these links will help:
Conversation Newsletter Article
GFAA Advice Notes
Report on GFAA Flatworm Study
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