French scientists and chefs alike are worried about an invasive species of worm that has infiltrated the country and threatens les escargots, a famous dish in French cooking.
Platydemus manokwari, a dark and almost entirely flat worm, has been listed among the top 100 most invasive species worldwide, The Guardian reported.
Measuring about 5 cm long and 5 mm wide, New Guinea flatworms have dark backs, light underbellies and elongated heads. The worms, which have mouths located on their underbellies, have been introduced in 15 countries and territories in the Pacific.
While the worms have been brought to some areas on purpose, they have been devastating for native snails and earthworms in other places.
"This species is extraordinarily invasive," said Jean-Lou Justine of the National Museum of Natural History, as quoted by The Guardian. "I really hope it can be stopped at the earliest stages."
The New Guinea flatworm is a risk not only to the French ecosystem but also to French cuisine.
"All snails in Europe could be wiped out. It may seem ironic, but it's worth pointing out the effect that this will have on French cooking," Justine noted.
The worm was first sighted among greenhouse plants at a Normandy botanical garden, according to The Guardian. The slimy black animals, which originate in the mountains of New Guinea, have a voracious appetite for snails, even chasing them up tree trunks to devour them.
"Platydemus manokwari represents a new and significant threat to biodiversity in France and Europe, which hosts hundreds of species of snails, some of which are endangered and protected," said PeerJ, a publisher of peer-reviewed studies, as reported by The Guardian. "It is therefore important to consider the implementation of eradication and control of this flatworm."
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