Inflammations, burns, danger for the ecosystem… The “fire worm” is proliferating in the Mediterranean and is causing concern

The invasive species has benefited from rising temperatures in southern Europe for several years. However, its development threatens Italian beaches and the marine ecosystem in particular.

Halfway between the centipede and the stinging caterpillar. The “fire worm” – or Amphinomidae – thrives today in the increasingly warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, in the sand and seagrass beds. It is an invasive and voracious species that attacks fauna and flora. A type of marine millipede, it is easily recognizable by its brightly colored body and the venomous white hairs that cover it. It causes severe itching and burning to anyone who touches it.

Their presence on the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea is not new, but the “fireworms” were mainly observed in Sicily, and exclusively in the summer. Today, the average sea temperature has increased by 1.2 degrees in 40 years, making it an increasingly ideal habitat for these worms. “Global warming is causing various changes in the Mediterranean, which will probably be exacerbated in the coming years”Federico Betti, an expert in invasive species at the University of Genoa in northeastern Italy, told AFP. These aquatic millipedes are breeding more and moving up the Italian coast. They have now been observed in Calabria, a region further north, in greater numbers, and for longer periods of the year.

Their presence is a problem. The hairs that cover them come off at the slightest touch and are full of stinging venom. If they come into contact with the skin, they cause a severe burning and itching sensation. In Sicily, where the species is very present, bathers arm themselves with shoes and masks to go into the water.

But above all, these aquatic millipedes disrupt the marine ecosystem. They feed on everything: from coral on the seabed to fish caught in the nets of Sicilian fishermen. This predatory worm pounces on fish caught in the nets, eating their heads, bodies and guts. It is impossible to sell half-eaten fish, which causes significant losses: 7 out of 10 catches are affected, according to Sicilian fishermen to AFP.

Fishermen are helpless against this very resistant species. It is impossible to kill these worms by cutting them in two, because they regenerate by themselves: “If you cut it in half, not only does the part with the head regenerate a back part, but the back part itself manages to regenerate a head in about 22 days.”specifies Federico Betti, expert in invasive species.