A new invasive flatworm species, Amaga pseudobama, has been identified in the United States, marking a significant discovery detailed in a recent research paper.
First observed in 2020 in North Carolina, the species is believed to originate from South America and has since been spotted in Florida and Georgia. Researchers suggest it may have spread to additional states, indicating a broader invasion of the southeastern U.S. over the past decade.
The flatworm is small, brown, and a few centimetres long, and it joins other invasive flatworms recently discovered in the region, such as Platydemus manokwari. Initially, researchers thought it was Obama nungara, a similar species from Brazil and Argentina that has spread widely across Europe. However, further analysis revealed it as an entirely new species.
Upon formally identifying Amaga pseudobama, researchers discovered that samples had been collected as early as 2015 in North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Citizen science reports suggest that the worm’s presence may extend beyond these areas, underscoring the species’ potential for broader distribution.
According to North Carolina State University, terrestrial flatworms are flat, shiny, and covered in a slime-like coating that aids in movement.
“Terrestrial flatworms are known to kill other invertebrates, especially other native worms, snails, and slugs,” according to the university, and thus “they have been considered damaging where they are introduced.”
In a news release, Matt Bertone, co-author of the study and director of NC State’s Plant Disease and Insect Clinic, noted that Amaga pseudobama has not yet been observed in natural or native habitats, leaving its impact on the environment largely unknown.
Researchers are currently inferring some behaviours from related species but have yet to determine its exact prey or reproduction rate.
The discovery of Amaga pseudobama highlights the ongoing threat of invasive species in the southern U.S. and the need for monitoring and study to understand their ecological effects.
“Do they pose a risk to native worms and, by extension, native ecosystems? We have to study these species to find out,” he added. “And the first step in that process is clearly identifying a species and naming it.”
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