Fireworm spreads to warm Mediterranean waters: What do we know about this worrying species?

It is called the fireworm or the spiny worm. This animal, which was only found off the coast of Sicily in the summer, is spreading to the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea with climate change. A worrying predator that attacks many marine species and sometimes swimmers.

How to recognize it?

The fireworm looks like a centipede, and can be brown, green or red. It is usually 15 to 30 cm long. It can wait 50 cm. At the slightest contact, its white hairs with a stinging venom break off and enter the skin, causing a burning sensation and inflammation.

Where is it located?

The fireworm is not new to the Mediterranean. It was first present in the summer off Sicily. It has also been spotted in Calabria, on the tip of the Italian boot.

Why are fishermen worried?

Fireworms are fond of everything from coral to fish in fishing nets. “They eat the head and the whole body and eviscerate it,” explains Italian fisherman Alfonso Baroni. Half-eaten fish cannot be sold. So fishermen in the Mediterranean have reduced the time they submerge their nets.

How do swimmers react?

Somewhat anxious holidaymakers were seen putting on masks or plastic shoes before swimming to avoid the effects of the fireworm.

Why does the fireworm thrive in the Mediterranean?

The worms also migrate to new areas. The fireworm “is an opportunistic species that acts as both a predator and a scavenger,” explains zoologist Francesco Tiralongo, who is leading a project at the University of Catania in Sicily to study the phenomenon. “It is found in impressive quantities… in very shallow waters.” And it is a resilient species: “You can’t kill a fireworm by cutting it in half, because it has excellent regenerative abilities. If you cut it in half, the part with the head will not only regenerate the back, but also the back.” The part also manages to regenerate its head in about 22 days. “Global warming is causing various changes in the Mediterranean, which are likely to worsen in the coming years,” warns Federico Betti. The average temperature in the Mediterranean has risen by about 1.2 degrees Celsius over the past 40 years.