We recently received a question from a reader who has been trying to identify a worm-like organism for several years. She said she has done quite a bit of research and has come up empty handed. Since the description in her post was so detailed, we will use the original (with some minor editing), “A jet black, uniformly colored, worm-type organism, of uniform thickness, around 2cm long and 1-2 mm in diameter. It has no tentacles or any other protuberances to suggest it is a slug. I come across it in clusters on damaged fallen apples. I suspect it is eating the damaged fruit, not doing the damage. I have also occasionally seen it on damaged zucchinis”. Our reader also included that she lives in the South West UK, which is an important detail.
Despite our reader’s detailed description, we too are at a loss for what this creature might be, and so are posting this here in case any of our other readers have any thoughts on the subject. There are several larvae that are associated with apples and vegetables, but her account of its appearance negates all of these possibilities.
All About Worms is always free, always reader-supported, we don't subject you to annoying video or ad pop-ups. But it does cost us money out of our pocket to keep the site going (nearly 20 years so far!) So your tips via CashApp, Venmo, or Paypal are appreciated! Receipts will come from ISIPP Publishing.
CashApp us
Venmo us
Paypal us
We recommend that she take a photo of these interesting organisms the next time she comes across some. Having a picture might help us make at least an educated guess at what she is finding.
To conclude, our reader sent us a detailed description of an organism she has seen on damaged apples. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to make an identification, but we wish her the best of luck in finding out what these creatures are!
All About Worms is always free, always reader-supported, we don't subject you to ads or annoying video pop-ups. But it does cost us money out of our pocket to keep the site going (nearly 20 years so far!) So your tips via CashApp, Venmo, or Paypal are appreciated! Receipts will come from ISIPP Publishing.
CashApp us
Venmo us
Paypal us
I live in west Scotland and have many (many!) of these, or similar, infesting fallen apples.. They elongate then contract to move, very thin, about 2cm long, completely black, like leeches. Cannot identify them, I have images to send but not sure how to attach them..
I have seen those in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in the US, as other posters have described, only seen on fallen apples: deep black, worm-like creature about 2 cm long. It would be great to know what they are, perhaps see photos from others? I would also be willing to take and post a photo if there is a way to do that?
I live in Plymouth, Devon and always find these on fallen apples in the garden. I have recently started experimenting with composting inside the kitchen in a sealed compost bag and was astonished today to find two of these black creatures inside the kitchen under the sealed compost container, having I assume smelt all the orange peel through the bag and having made their way from the garden through the conservatory and right across the whole kitchen!
I get these as well in Cornwall. I thought they might be leeches?
I have seen one too! Yesterday in fact, it was on an apple that I had thrown in the garden the day before as it was too sharp to eat.
Black worm like creature approximately 2cm in length by 2-3mm in width. However unlike a worm it moves very much like a slug as if it is flat on the underside. I am in west Devon.
I have seen these too! I also live in sw England and have taken pictures and a short video clip, which I can share with the site if there is an email address?