Pot-plant trade is ‘hitchhiker pathway’ for invasive flatworms, say UK experts

Rise in sightings prompts call for ban on soil imports, to prevent entry of more species that eat earthworms and degrade soil

They have been invading the UK for years; small mucus-covered animals which hunt in gardens, allotments and greenhouses.

The number of sightings of non-native flatworms has risen sharply over the past few years, and experts have warned they can decimate earthworm populations and degrade soil quality.