Many fishermen, especially Sicilian ones, have noticed a significant increase in the presence of vermocane in recent years.
Will we be able to unlock a new fear this summer too instead of living it carefree? We know, come on, you can never be too careful. And this time too it is good to inform yourself about everything, absolutely everything, even about those organisms that seem harmless but are very dangerous. Here, however, he thinks about “exuding menace” from every pore a worm which seems anything but harmless (starting from its name!): the worm dog.
The worm dog and it is one of those marine worms that have spread due to rising temperatures. Just think, this is becoming a serious problem in Southern Italy. These worms threaten both protected marine species, such as corals, and fishermen, who can find their nets literally ransacked at any moment.
![Wormdog](https://www.bigodino.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/vermocane.2-900x506.jpg)
Faced with this situation, i biologists of the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS) of Trieste have opened laboratories in Panarea and Milazzo (two important Sicilian Tyrrhenian locations) to study this species in detail.
Vermocane, known scientifically as Hermodice carunculataare originally from Mediterranean and in the past their population was controlled. However, due to the anomalous heat waves of recent years, worms have multiplied rapidly and are causing considerable damage to various systems.
Michela D’Alessandro, together with her colleagues from the Ogs, is conducting a study on this species. In the past, warblers were only common in the Suez Canal, but now, with the water heating of the Mediterranean, have become numerous in the seas between Sicily, Calabria and Puglia, requiring an awareness campaign to inform residents and tourists about this new threat.
This campaign is conducted by the Ogs in collaboration with various universities and research institutes. Wormdogs are colorful and on average between 20 and 30 centimeters long, but sometimes they can even reach meter in length. It is not known how long they can live, but the oldest specimen observed so far was eight years old. These worms have bristles containing stinging toxins that can cause edema and itching. Their toxins are currently the subject of scientific study.
Roberto Simonini, physiologist at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, isolated the toxic substances produced by vermocane. Simonini explains that the bites of these worms can cause burning and pain, especially in areas with thinner skin, such as the wrists. Fishermen, often already now, experience stings when they have to free their nets. In fact, even fishermen have noticed a significant increase in the presence of vermocane in recent years.
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