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full screen The invasive flatworm Obama nungara has been found in Malmö. Photo: Jonas Roth
The invasive flatworm Obama nungara has been discovered in central Malmö.
“This is a species that is potentially very harmful,” says Cajza Eriksson, coordinator of the work against invasive species in Skåne, in a press release from the county administrative board.
She states that Obama nungara eat worms and snails and pose a threat to, for example, earthworms, which are important for the ecosystem to break down plant parts and create new soil.
The flatworm was found in a public planting and when additional plants from the same nursery were examined, more worms were found.
“Unfortunately, there were different plants with different delivery dates, which indicates that the flatworm is well spread at the German supplier. It is also a large supplier that supplies more nurseries,” says Cajza Eriksson.
The name Obama nungara comes from the Brazilian indigenous language Tupi and has nothing to do with former US President Barack Obama.
“The species becomes difficult to combat if it has spread widely. Therefore, it is very important that everyone who sees the flatworm report this to us,” says Cajza Eriksson.