The potential spread of terrestrial planarians Artioposthia triangulata and Australoplana sanguinea var. alba to continental Europe

Abstract

SummaryA survey in Great Britain of the introduced terrestrial planarians Artioposthia triangulata and Australoplana sanguinea var. alba, which are obligate predators of earthworms, indicates that after 30 years Artioposthia triangulata is established throughout Scotland. However, apart from an initial record in 1965, Artioposthia triangulata was unrecorded from England until it was found again in 1992; currently there are 25 records.There are fewer records of Australoplana sanguinea var. alba and these are mainly from the south and west of England. Ecoclimatic data from Edinburgh, where Artioposthia triangulata is common, and Plymouth, close to where Australopiana sanguinea var. alba has been recorded, were used by the computer programme CLIMEX to predict the potential spread of these planarians within Europe. Results suggest that Artioposthia triangulata could become established in north west Europe, including areas of Scandinavia, Germany and Poland, whereas Australoplana sanguinea var. alba would be confined to western Europe, including northern Spain. To slow their spread within Britain and prevent their establishment on continental Europe it is suggested that all nurseries and garden centres which sell containerised plants should initiate and maintain stringent hygiene regimes.