Invasive Obama flatworm found in Alderney

Alderney Wildlife Trust and States of Alderney said there were reports of Obama flatworms in two locations

People have been asked to report invasive flatworm sightings after one was found for the first time on Alderney.

Alderney Wildlife Trust and States of Alderney said there were reports of Obama flatworms in two locations across the island and were verified by experts.

The species, native to the south of Brazil and Argentina, is up to 10cm (0.328 feet) long, dark brown, with black dorsal streaks and a pale underside, and its egg capsules were 5mm (0.20 inches) black cocoons.

The species - not linked the former US President - is named after the Brazilian Tupi words for leaf (oba) and animal (ma) and has become invasive in a number of locations across Europe.

The first report of the species in Europe was in Guernsey in 2008.

Alderney Wildlife Trust and the States said similar to the Australian flatworm, the Obama flatworm's diet included native earthworms.

It said this could potentially impact the species dependent on them, including small mammals and birds, and could limit the role of earthworms in decomposing dead organic material in the soil.

It added predation by any of the invasive flatworms was therefore a concern for the health of Alderney's soils and could have negative impacts on growers across the island.

People who see an invasive flatworm have been asked to report it with as precise a location and date as possible, with a photo where possible.

What could members of the public do?

• Check soil around new plants

• Check gardening equipment for flatworms or their eggs

• Not giving or receiving plants or reusing topsoil from areas known to be infested

• Treating infected plant bots by immersing the whole pot, about the root ball, in water over 30C for 40 minutes.