On the presence of the invasive planarian Obama nungara (Carbayo, Alvarez-Presas, Jones & Riutort, 2016) (Platyhelminthes: Geoplanidae) in an urban area in Belgium

Abstract

We report the first records of the invasive terrestrial planarian Obama nungara in Belgium. Since spring 2017, the species has frequently been found in Elsene (50°50′2.8′′ N, 4°21′52.0′′ E), a municipality of the Brussels Capital Region (Belgium). It was observed for the first time on June 15th, 2017 under stone floor tiles in a private courtyard in an urbanized area. Additional observations were made regularly, with a maximum of seven specimens observed on January 5th, 2018.