Apple maggots are white worms that eat the flesh inside of maturing apples. These are among the toughest worms to detect from the outside. The apple maggot is the larva of the apple maggot fly. They are white or yellowish in color and they can grow up to ¼ of an inch long. The adult apple maggot fly is also ¼ of an inch long. The adult apple maggot is quite easy to spot due to its color. It has yellow legs and it is black in color. It also has yellow markings across its abdomen and bands that appear in a zigzag pattern across the wings.

It only takes a second or two for the apple maggot to lay a bundle of eggs on an apple or even a pear. It lay’s its eggs in punctures in pear or apple skin. Apple maggots can ruin the apples in your apple tree if you do not stop them before they start. One of the best ways to control apple maggot populations in and around your apple trees is to prevent the fly from laying eggs in the first place. This can be accomplished by using sticky traps. Sticky traps are available at just about any store that sells camping gear, home and garden products, super stores, and even drugstores.

Sticky traps are made from either a red ball or a yellow rectangle. This ball or rectangle is covered with a sticky material that traps the fly with even the slightest touch. You should hang the sticky traps in and around your fruit trees in late June. They should remain in place until after harvest. It is best to use at least two traps per tree for a dwarf or semi-dwarf and at least four traps for standard trees. It is important to keep the sticky traps clear of surrounding branches and discard all fallen fruit immediately.

You can always tell if you have a codling moth infestation just by looking at the crevices in the bark of your apple trees. The codling moth spins its cocoon right in the crevices of apple trees. The codling moth larva is pink in color with a brown hear and it is around one inch long. The adult codling moth is a grayish brown color with brown lines on its forewings. It has pale, fringed hind wings with a wingspan of around ¾ of an inch.

The adult lays white, flat eggs in a number of places such as on fruit buds, leaves, or twigs. The larvae of codling moths make their way into apples through tunneling. Once they are just inside the apple, they continue to tunnel their way through, eating as they tunnel along.

There are several effective methods of controlling codling moths. In late winter or early spring you can spray dormant oil on trees before leaf budding. This will suffocate the eggs. Once the blossoms begin to open, meaning once they “show pink” called “open cluster,” position sticky traps with pheromone lures to catch the moths. If you notice a dozen or more moths caught in a single trap during the 10 to 14 days after bloom time, use Ryania, a botanical insecticide made from the ground stems of Ryania speciosa, a native plant of tropical America, in a spray as the blossom petals start to fall. To kill the newly hatched larva, spray Bacillus thuringiensis (BT), a live microorganism that kills insects, and light horticultural oils every seven to 10 days later in the season.

You can also control codling moths by attracting parasites of codling moths. Simply plant butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) nearby. Butterfly weed hosts codling parasites.

In all, there are around 500 species of leeches living on the planet today, but only 63 can be found in North America and 35 in Ontario. Leeches such as ribbon leeches (gray to brown in color) are typically used for bait. They can be found in ponds and marshes and they typically feed at night. The horse leech, which is greenish to dark brown, is a predator and scavenger feeder. This is also used for bait. The medicine leech is black with reddish orange brown spots on its back. And as the name suggests, this leech is used for medicinal purposes in some countries.

The tiger leech has a thinnish body, and it can be brightly colored (orangish) or pale. This means, the tiger leech can blend with many different skin types. Some live on land (around sand) and others live in lakes and ponds. Most leeches, however, live in lakes, rivers, and ponds, so it is possible to come in contact with any number of leeches. Fortunately, leeches do not carry parasites of any known diseases. They do, however, cause a number of other unpleasant reactions.

Leeches attach themselves to a host (humans are preferred) and they suck blood from the body. This makes leeches sanguivorous, meaning, they feed on blood and they can ingest more than several times their own body weight in blood in one single “meal.” While leeches prefer human blood, they have no problems settling for fish blood, frog, turtle, and bird blood. Leeches are also cannibals, Yes, leeches will even feed on leeches.

While leeches are not known to transmit disease, they can cause irritation and other allergic reactions in humans as well as an infection or blood poisoning. In addition, a leech bite can bleed for hours if not treated. To treat a leech “bite” promptly, you must remove the leech by pushing the leech off the skin from the skinny end. Push the leech sideways to prevent the leech from discharging the contents of its gut into the bite. This can cause an infection and possible blood poisoning. Again, this is the best technique for removing leeches. Techniques such as ripping the leech off without thinking, heating it or pouring salt over it can be dangerous.

To repel leech bites, rub soap lather on exposed areas of the skin and let it dry. You may also apply eucalyptus oil, tropical strength insect repellent, or lemon juice to the skin and even the clothing. Leech socks are also extremely effective in protecting the skin from leeches. Leech socks are tightly woven, light-colored “socks” that fit over outer garments.

After you have safely removed the leech, you should wash the wound with soap and water and apply a cold pack if pain or swelling is present. Keep the wound clean until it heals. If you follow these steps, and you have no leech allergies and are in good health, you should have no problems healing. If you experience swelling around the lips and eyes, red blotches on the skin, an itchy rash, infection, or ulcer, go to the hospital immediately.

While most maggots feed on decaying organic matter such as plants and oats, maggots of the blow fly feed on small dead animals and the contents of garbage cans. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, “maggots sometimes occur in soil near buildings in cities; their food source is not known. Eight “waves” of maggots have been distinguished; each wave attacks dead animals in a strict sequence as decay progresses from the newly dead corpse through rigor and putrefaction to mummification. Although some maggots appear only during a clearly defined stage of animal decomposition, the large voracious maggots of many blow flies feed on any animal matter, including living tissues.”

Maggots have a number of medical uses. They assist in the prevention of infection by cleaning away dead flesh. They also produce allatonin. This chemical compound is naturally produced by many organisms, and used in medications to treat a number of skin conditions such as impetigo, acne, and eczema. Maggots were also used during the civil war to remove decaying tissue and prevent bacterial growth in open wounds.

Although maggots can be a powerful preventative medicine, they can also destroy healthy tissue. When maggots are or have been used in the medical profession, it is done so only under controlled conditions by a skilled professional. If a maggot is or has been eating away at any part of your body, it is possible that the creature may have eaten away at healthy tissue. This may cause permanent damage to your tissues, so it is extremely critical that you contact a doctor immediately or go to an emergency room. The severity of your condition cannot be determined online or without the trained eye and techniques of a medical professional.

When you visit a doctor or emergency room, here’s what you can expect: A doctor will clean the infected wound with a high grade solution and extract any maggots from the area. He will then apply a topical antibiotic and you may have to take oral medications for up to 6 weeks or more. If your wound is serious, you may require stitches. So again, if you have come in contact with a maggot or maggots, you must visit a doctor immediately.

Sources:

Encyclopedia Britannica, www.britannica.com

If you have ingested a worm along with your sunflower seeds, chances are, it was dead. Even if it were alive, you needn’t worry. Besides causing you to be grossed out, the worm you found in your bag of sunflower seeds cannot harm you. The worm that you swallowed was likely the larvae of the Indian meal moth and it will not effect your digestive system in any way.

The Indian meal moth does not have any known diseases, it doesn’t carry any known parasites, and it does it carry any harmful pathogens. This larvae or worm is made up of mostly protein and niacin. Other similar insects that could end up in your bag of sunflower seeds include the flour beetle and the sawtooth grain beetle. These insects are harmless as well.

About the Indian Meal Moth

The Indian meal moth’s scientific name is Plodia interpunctata Huber, order Lepidoptera. The moths are 3/8 to ½-inch long with two-toned wings folded over its back. The wings are pale gray with reddish-brown ends. The caterpillars are off-white with brown heads and they grow to ½-inches long. The caterpillars may become greenish, pinkish, yellowish or brownish in color.

The female Indian meal moth lays its eggs in suitable larval food. It may take from 27-305 days for the egg to develop into an adult. Seven or eight generations may occur in a year. The caterpillars hatch from eggs and produce silk tunnels to protect themselves while feeding. Larval development varies depending on type of food and temperature. The caterpillars have chewing mouthparts that chew through Indian meal, flour, whole wheat, cornmeal, shelled corn, dried fruit, seeds, crackers, biscuits, nuts, powdered milk, chocolate, candy, red peppers, and all types of pet food.

While medically harmless, finding moths flying around the home can be annoying. This is an indication of a breeding population in the home. The caterpillars can also be found crawling on ceilings and walls in search of a place to spin a cocoon. When found in food, you might also notice the caterpillars’ loose silk mat on the top surface of the food.

Not to be mistaken for the clothes moth (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) which does not have two-tones wings, but rather uniform gray wings, the Indian meal moth is easy to kill. Al it takes is time and patience. If you suspect that you might have an Indian meal moth infestation, check all opened boxed (or plastic bag) food in your pantry for moths, caterpillars or webbing. If you find any of the three, discard the food. This means throw it in a garbage bag and take it outside immediately.

For any remaining unopened food products, put them in the freezer until you are ready to use. Keep in mind that freezing for a few days kills all stages of the moth. It’s unlikely that the moths can penetrate through cardboard boxes, but it is possible for them to chew through very thin plastic. Don’t forget to check all shelving and surrounding areas in your pantry and cupboards.

If you need some help with locating the infestation, pheromone traps may be helpful. The traps can help locate the general area of the infestation down to a room or a closet. They might even help to eliminate small infestations. Pheromone traps will last anywhere from one to three months. Simply place them in several locations for maximum benefits. Continue to replace the traps until you notice that the traps are free from captured months.

If you want to avoid eating anymore of these protein packed creatures, simply check the inside of any boxed food products before chewing them or cooking them up. This is very easy to do. You can pour the contents into a large mixing bowl and sift through it or pour the contents into a strainer and sift. The same goes for pet food, as meal moths tend to lay eggs in bags or boxes of cat and dog food as well.

Note: Using insecticides in the kitchen or pantry is dangerous, so be ruthless in your search for the Indian meal moth and you will be successful at eliminating them without having to resort to using harmful chemicals.

Earthworms help trees, plants, vegetables and fruits thrive by aerating the soil. When earthworms burrow through the soil, the tunnels allow air in to help plant roots breathe. Additionally, as earthworms digest organic matter, their bodies expel it and produce excrement that is rich in calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. Called castings, the nutrients enrich the soil to make plants happy. The earthworm castings also help the soil retain water. Moist soil helps the growth period of plant life.

Now that you know how beneficial worms are to the environment, you can rest easy knowing you probably will not come in contact with poisonous worm. If you do, chances are it is a bristle worm. Bristle worms live in trees, bark, sand, and reef in tropical areas around the world. Bristle worms can be found in other parts of the world as well. Some are errant, meaning, they move along the shoreline and shallow water, while others are tube-binding which means they build a permanent tube or home along the shoreline flats.

Bristle worms belong to the family Polychaete. The common name is Acropora Crab. Bristle worms range in size from 1″ long up to a whopping 20″ in length. The vast majority of small bristle worms are orange in color and they can appear two-tone. Large bristle worms are usually gray or brownish in color. Like most worms, bristle worms are nocturnal, so they are not usually around during the day.

Bristle worms will only “bite” or sting if provoked. While their sting may cause some discomfort, the poison left behind rarely causes any damage. The bite may cause burning, redness, inflammation, pain or numbness. The bite may be treated by:

*Applying vinegar (topical acetic acid) or isopropyl alcohol.
*Removing the bristles with tweezers or adhesive tape. Ouch!
*Taking 1-2 acetaminophen every 4 hours and/or 1-2 ibuprofen every 6-8 hours for pain.
*If severe inflammation and a burning sensation develop, apply hydrocortisone cream 3 times per day.
*If pus, redness, or heat are present, these are signs of infection. Apply topical antibiotic ointment.

To prevent infection, talk to your doctor about taking antibiotics. Only a doctor can recommend the right antibiotics. If infection develops, continue antibiotics for at least 5 days after all signs of infection have cleared or as directed by your physician. Certain antibiotics cause sensitivity to the sun, so use a sunscreen with a minimum SPF 15 during treatment.

A number of other virus and worm utilities exist (for free), but they usually do not offer as much protection as the software produced by the companies listed above. However, Microsoft offers several downloadable tools that can help remove malicious software. If you are running Windows, and you are looking for free software removal tools, you should stick with Microsoft software downloads.

Microsoft offers a “Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool” free of charge for its Windows operating system. The great thing about this free worm virus removal tool is that it updates once a month and reports if a worm virus or other malicious software is found.

The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool checks Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003 computers for and helps remove infections by specific, prevalent malicious software including Blaster Worm, Sasser, and Mydoom. When the detection and removal process is complete, the tool displays a report describing the outcome, including which, if any, malicious software was detected and removed. The tool creates a log file named mrt.log in the %WINDIR%\debug folder. Version 1.30 adds Win32/Allaple to the list of malicious software this tool detects.

You can download directly from the Microsoft website or Cnet.com.

About Worms and Computer Viruses

Computer viruses and worms are malicious software programs that can cause your computer to run slow, make it vulnerable to other worms and viruses, or they can complete disable your system. Unlike a Trojan Horse, which is a malicious software program that cannot reproduce or self-replicate, a worm virus has the ability to multiply at a rapid pace. A worm or virus can spread from computer to computer, travel across networks, copy address books and send itself out to everyone in it. A worm or virus can even freeze or disable entire servers.

Some of the most sophisticated worms and viruses can actually tunnel into your computer and give users remote access to your computer. One of the most notorious worms of them all is the Blaster Worm. The Blaster Worm, created in part by an 18-year-old kid from Minnesota back in 2003, spread on computers running Windows XP and Windows 2000. This worm virus was also called “Lovsan” and “Lovesan.” Some of the latest worm viruses include the Koobface Worm (infected users of social networking sites like Facebook), Conficker Worm (infects any computer user), and Neeris Virus (infiltrated the office of the U.S. Marshals).

A Trojan Horse may sound less severe than a worm virus, but it can still cause damage to your computer. A Trojan or “Trojan Horse” will present itself as a helpful program, but once you install it on your computer, it will cripple your system almost immediately. A Trojan Horse may appear in the form of a file or software program that has been sent from a legitimate source. The Trojan Horse will install and a number of things can happen.

Some Trojans will simply rearrange your desktop or add annoying icons to your desktop and others will delete files. Some of the more advanced Trojans can open the door to predators looking to steal your identity. These types of Trojans can give users unlimited access to your system. Trojans do not reproduce or replicate. Worms and viruses, on the other hand, can reproduce, self-replicate and infect other files.

There are four effective methods for controlling bagworms including Bacterial Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), Timed Sprays Using Degree-Day Emergence, Mechanical Hand Picking, and Insecticide Sprays. Bacterial Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or just “Bt,” is effective against bagworms if it is used against young larvae. Applications should be made at the end of June after all the eggs have hatched and the larvae are through ballooning.

Timed sprays using degree-day emergence works by using a base temperature of 14.4 degrees C (57.9 degrees F). The median first emergence is 380 DD base 14.4 degrees C (716 DD degrees F) and the median last emergence is 572 DD base 14.4 degrees C (1062 DD degrees F). Allow for an extra week of ballooning after the last emergence mark has been reached before applying Bt or an insecticide. A less precise degree-day model uses a 50 degrees F base, which calculates last emergence around 900 DD units.

Mechanical hand picking is just that. If the bags are few in number and easily reached they may be picked off the plant and squashed. This can be done easily in the late fall when deciduous foliage has been dropped or the bits of plant material on the bags turn brown and can be easily located on evergreens. Be sure to cut the attachment silk band so that the branch will not be girdled in the future.

Stomach insecticides (insecticide sprays) are very useful for control of bagworms. Remember that the plant foliage is to be thoroughly covered because the larvae are protected from contact by being inside of the silk bag. Again, early sprays against young larvae are more effective than later applications. Products registered for bagworm control are: acephate (Orthene), bendiocarb (Ficam, Turcam)(*), bifenthrin (Talstar), carbaryl (Sevin), chlorpyrifos (Dursban), cyfluthrin (Tempo)(*), diazinon, dimethoate (Cygon), fluvalinate (Mavrik)(*), malathion, nicotine sulfate, pyrethrum, permethrin (Pounce)(*), rotenone and trichlorfon (Dylox, Proxol)(*).

-By Ohio State University Extension Center, Entomology Department, D.J. Shetlar.

About the Bagworm

If your home is surrounded by trees, chances are there are bunches of little bags hidden in the bark of the tree trunks. Inside, you may find anywhere from 300 to 1,000 eggs containing bagworms (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis). The bagworm larva prefer red cedar and arborvitae above all as well as apple, birch, black locust, cypress, elm, juniper, oak, pine, poplar, spruce, and sycamore. The bagworm occurs mostly from New England to Nebraska and south through the state of Texas.

Inside of the bag, which may be camouflaged with foliage, bark, and other debris, the larva is tan or brown with black spots. Once it emerges, the larva is black. It spins down on a silk string in search of a host plant. In some cases, the larva never makes it all the way down on the string, but rather it is picked up by the wind and whisked off to nearby plants. Once the larva has found a host plant either on its own or via the wind, it begins to spin a new bag over its body. The larva feeds and grows inside of the bag. It feeds by sticking its head out to eat, and then it retracts. It protects itself from any perceived threats by retracting into the bag and holding it shut.

By around mid-August, the bagworms mature and they migrate to another area in search of a sturdy host or structure. After the move, the larva pupates. This is the non-feeding stage where the bagworm begins to transform into its adult form. The female bagworm transforms into a wingless moth, which actually looks much like its larva and the male transforms into a winged moth.

Magic Worm, Bedding offers the following features that will make raising worms or composting easier.

-Color darkens worms so they are closer to natural fish food colors.

-The spongy, fluffy structure of the bedding is maintained because it is made of millions of tiny fibers that also work to toughen and condition worms so they will live longer on the hook and catch more fish.

-When the bedding becomes black, it is full of worm castings and needs to be replaced. This natural humus may be used as an excellent potting soil.

Magic Worm Bedding is available in 24 oz.-72 oz. bags for smaller projects. For larges projects, the bedding is available in 3-25 lb. Bags. Other Magic Worm Bedding products include Brown Bear Worm Bedding and Buss Bed-ding. Please visit the official Magic Products website at www.magicproducts.comfor purchasing details.

About Raising Worms

The process for raising worms is much like the process for worm composting. The same materials used for composting worms are the same for raising worms. The reasons for using these materials are the same in both cases as well. The only difference between raising worms and composting worms using the same method is that when raising worms you will not have to “turn” your worm systems. When composting, it is essential to turn your worm systems to encourage aeration.

Worms need several things in order to survive. They need: darkness, food, moisture, oxygen, and warmth. So, to begin the process of raising healthy (and happy) worms, you will need:

·Raw fruits and vegetables
·A shallow container with a high surface area to volume ratio (a Rubbermaid tub is an excellent option)
·Moist leaves, shredded cardboard, paper (called “bedding”)
·Earthworms

Earthworms can be purchased from a number of online retailers or at most plant and/or pet stores. Once you have your earthworms in hand, wash out the container or bin that you are using. If you have a wooden bin, line the bottom of it with sturdy plastic such as a heavy trash bag or shower curtain. Mix the organic materials together and add the worms. You will notice after several weeks that the worms have eaten through the materials. This means it is time to add more food. This is also a good time to make sure that the leaves or “bedding” is still moist. A good way to measure moisture is with the sponge test. If the bedding feels like a wrung out sponge, then it is ok. If it is not, it is time to add water. It is important not to add too much water because too much can interfere with oxygen. So, again, use the wrung out sponge as a measuring tool.

Next, it is important to keep temperatures in the ideal breeding range and to keep the bin in a dark area. Ideal breeding temperatures range from around 77 degrees Fahrenheit to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (max). Use a thermometer to keep track. Worms prefer the darkness, which is why you will rarely find hoards of worms wriggling around in the sunlight. Another reason is that the sunlight dries the worm’s skin out. Worms breathe through their skin, so they need moisture to survive. There are several ways to keep the worms abode dark. You can keep your system in a very low light area, you can use opaque bins, and you can also use a large amount of bedding to block out excessive amounts of light.

If you would like to keep a close eye on your worms, meaning you would like to observe them for extended periods of time, you can set up a dark room. Red lights do not bother worms, so a dark room is the ideal space for those interested in long periods of observation. Earthworms may be purchased at just about any pet or plant store, at bait and tackle stores, and even at retailers such as Wal-Mart. Just look in the sporting goods section in the refrigerated cases. Good luck!

Worms can spread from computer to computer, travel across networks, and copy your address book in order to send itself to all of your contacts. Worms can freeze or disable entire servers. Some of the most sophisticated worms can actually tunnel into your computer and give users remote access to your system. One of the most notorious of these is the Blaster Worm. The Blaster Worm, created in part by an 18-year-old kid from Minnesota back in 2003, spread on computers running Windows XP and Windows 2000. The worm was also called “Lovsan” and “Lovesan.”

While viruses and worms can spread, much like an infection, a Trojan Horse cannot. However, a Trojan Horse can be just as harmful to your computer as a virus or worm. A Trojan Horse, or just “Trojan,” will present itself as a helpful program, but once you install it on your computer, it will wreak havoc on your system almost immediately. A Trojan Horse may appear in the form of a file or software program that has been sent from a legitimate source. The Trojan Horse will install and a number of things can happen. Some Trojans will simply rearrange your desktop or add annoying icons to your desktop and others will delete entire files. Some of the more advanced Trojans can open the door to predators looking to steal your identity. These types of Trojans can give users unlimited access to your system.

Trojan and Worm Removal Tools

To get rid of downloadable viruses such as Trojans, worms or any other malicious software there are a number of free Trojan and worm removal software tool downloads available on the web. It is important to make sure that that the worm removal tool download is from a trusted source. If you are running Windows, stick with Microsoft software downloads. Microsoft offers its “Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool” free of charge for its Windows operating system. The great thing about this free Trojan and worm removal tool is that it updates once a month and reports if malicious software is found.

Other malware and worm removal tools include: Norton AntiVirus and McAfee Antivirus. These software programs are not free. It is important to note that while the Microsoft Software Removal Tool helps remove infections, it does not prevent them. If you want added security, it’s best to install Norton or McAfee as well.

From Microsoft:

The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool checks Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003 computers for and helps remove infections by specific, prevalent malicious software including Blaster Worm, Sasser, and Mydoom. When the detection and removal process is complete, the tool displays a report describing the outcome, including which, if any, malicious software was detected and removed. The tool creates a log file named mrt.log in the %WINDIR%\debug folder.
Version 1.30 adds Win32/Allaple to the list of malicious software this tool detects.

You can download directly from the Microsoft website or Cnet.com.

Although caterpillars and worms have some similarities, many differences exist between the two species. Worms and caterpillars have soft bodies, meaning they do not have a skeletal system, and both animals are nocturnal. Depending on the species of worm, some caterpillars and worms may also be similar in length. Some caterpillars may grow up to three inches long or more. The similarities end here.

There are many ways to tell the difference between a worm and a caterpillar. Verifying whether or not the creatures crawling around in your garden or home are caterpillars or worms will help you decide which treatment and prevention techniques will be effective. For starters, you may download an online identification key for earthworms by clicking here. The link will take you to The Backyard Nature websites where you will find a key that is available to all. You may also access an online field guide to earthworms by clicking hereclick here.

In the meantime, here is a bit of information about the physical differences between caterpillars and worms. Caterpillars and worms also live quite differently from one another. One of the most obvious differences between caterpillars and worms is caterpillars move around on three pairs of legs, while worms have no limbs at all. Worms move around by contracting their segments. Each segment has two pairs of hairs called setae. The setae help worms grip the soil or other materials. In general, worms and caterpillars move slowly. When faced by an attacker, however, they can move fairly quickly.

There are literally thousands of different species of worms and more than 2,700 species of earthworm alone. Like earthworms (annelida), caterpillars have segmented bodies. Another similarity between caterpillars and worms is caterpillars and worms are a favorite food for other animals. They are both protein rich and some worms, such as the white worm or “pasta worm”, are raised specifically for feeding to other animals such as fish. Worms and caterpillars are known for having hearty appetites. Their appetites are so hearty that they have earned the name “pest” by farmers around the globe. Depending on the type of worm or caterpillar, they can eat through crops of all kinds, plants, trash, and even inedible materials such as cotton.

Worms and caterpillars have to defend themselves against a wide variety of predators quite regularly. Because of this, each animal has no choice but to utilize a wide variety of techniques to ward off attacks. Worms protect themselves in several ways. If their attackers hunt for them below ground, worms will quickly withdraw into their burrows. If a worm finds itself face to face with a predator on the surface, the worm will thrash about, jump, and twist their bodies. Some worms may also spit and spew a foul smelling or foul tasting fluid.

The caterpillar is just as aggressive when it comes to defending itself. Caterpillars have long hairs or bristles on their bodies, which can detach and lodge into the skin or mucous membranes of the predator. In some caterpillars, the bristles contain poison from the caterpillar’s venom glands. This poison is so powerful that in the case of the South American silk moth, it can be fatal to human beings. Caterpillars also spit juices and produce bad smells to ward off attackers. Caterpillars also have the ability to create a silk line and drop out of site if a predator approaches.

If you still have questions or concerns about green and black worms, please review the following related All About Worms articles:

What Are the Different Types of Green Worms?

Green Caterpillar

Bioluminescent Insects: The Railroad Worm

Green Worms in Your Garden

Green or Black, the Inchworm Will Attack