Re: New Zealand flatworm

Einionygarddwr@aol.com wrote:
> 
>     What's the current situation round the globe with this little pest?
> 
>     A few years ago, when it was first discovered living in Britain, there
> was a great deal of publicity in all the media. Since it eats earthworms, and
> has no natural predators here, there was something of a panic at the time...
> the end of horticulture/civilization as we know it. But in the last couple of
> years, almost total silence.
> 
>     Am I right in assuming that in its native habitat it is kept in check by
> other members of the local fauna? The only advice over here seems to be, if
> you see one, then tread on it. I ask because a friend who gardens about 10
> miles away has them, and she is none too thrilled.
> 
 Einion 
the ironic thing is that in NZ it is a scarcely=-known denzine of
extremely wild and remote bush country in the South Island and until it
appeared in Britain (in Scotland first and later in Ireland) almost
nobody in this country had ever even heard of it!

It still hasn't made its mark on human occupied areas here at all, but I
gather has devoured most of the earthworm population in both Ireland and
Scotland and in the extreme north of England, but has been limited in
its further spread there by the relative dryness and heat of the
climate, its original haunt being in an area of extremely high rainfall
and rather cool. Unfortunately, while I gather not all Wales is that
way, you have a good few districts which would be ideally suited to it.
I have not heard that any effective means of control have been found,
though I guess it will tend to die out from any area where it has
exhausted the food supply and then this could presumably be restocked
with worms eventually after a precautionary wait. People in the affected
areas could probably enlighten you further on this point.

Moira
-- 

PS (Especially for the attention of Kathryn Marsh)
Hi Kathryn 
I am copying this to the Organic list in the hopes you can help Einon
with more immediate and possibly hopeful information,
Thanks M

Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand. (on the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
Lat. 41:16S Long. 174:58E. Climate: Mediterranean/Temperate
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