Category: Marine Worms
Worm Moving Under Frozen Lake Resembles a Tube Worm
“I have rediscovered this worm-like mystery from a few years ago and thought maybe you could help!” states this reader in her submission regarding the long, brownish worm-like organism pictured below. “We live in Germany and we’re walking by a lake on a cold day in February when we spotted this creature under the ice; it was wriggling and moving and most definitely alive. Any ideas? Thank you!” Firstly, we must say that this worm is very odd-looking: we have never seen a worm with these markings, not to mention the bursting, bush-like thing at one end of its body. Secondly, we also have to point out the mysterious circumstances under which our reader discovered the worm; it is not every day you find a worm in a frozen lake.
Long White Worm Thick as a Thread Could be a Horsehair Worm
“What is this?” asks this reader about the long, thin, white worm pictured below slithering over some big rocks. “It is a live worm as thick as a thread of cotton. Many thanks.” She does not provide more context than this, though based on the photo alone, we would say this most resembles a horsehair worm. Unfortunately, the horsehair worm has garnered an unsavory reputation that is founded in a lot of misinformation. Also referred to as a Gordian worm, because of its tendency to tangle in on itself like the mythical Gordian knot, the horsehair worm is a parasitic worm that only takes insects and other smaller invertebrates as hosts.
Mystery Black and White-striped Worms Could be Ribbon Worms
“I recently saw a program on Discovery Plus entitled ‘MYSTERY AT BLIND FROG RANCH’, states this reader in his submission. He does not attach any photos, but he does provide ample context: “A variety of apparently a marine “worm” was found that I cannot find any information on. The worm is around 3 1/2 to 4 inches long, appears to be segmented, is basically white with black banding which appears to be approximately 1/4 inch in size with 3/8 to 1/2 inches between bands. I would appreciate any assistance you could provide in naming these worms.”
Dark, Small Worms Found in Minnesota Lake Pose Concerns for Residents About Invasive Species
“When I came out of our northern Minnesota lake in early October (cooling off on a warm fall day), my legs and swim trunks were covered in over 100 small dark brown to black larvae/worms”, writes this reader to us in his submission. “My guess is that they detached from the weeds that I had walked through and floated onto my legs. It is a deep (50 ft) soft bottom lake. Unfortunately I didn’t have a camera to take any photos. I saw an article on midge fly larvae but none of these were lighter-colored (all very dark) and they were all about 3 mm (0.1-inches) in length and 1mm (0.04-inches) in diameter? I would not call them slender. They didn’t fall off easily but I was able to brush them off. My neighbors say they have never seen this before and we had multiple new (to our lake) watercraft put in at our shore this summer so my main interest/concern would be whether this might be some sort of invasive species.”
Long and Spiky, Purple-gray Worm Found in Bathroom is a Flatworm
“Found this on my bathroom floor next to the toilet”, states this reader in her submission regarding the purplish-gray worm-like organism pictured below. “I don’t have a clue what it is but it’s creepy!”
Tangle of Orange-brown Worm-like Organisms is Potentially Seaweed
“Is this a worm?” asks this reader in her submission regarding the orangish-brown, tangled organism pictured below. “And if so, what type is it?”
Reddish-pink Worms Found in Pool are Either Earthworms or Tubifex Worms
“Not sure what these worms are that I found in my pool after heavy rain,” states this reader in Florence, South Carolina. The worms in question appear to be a pinkish-red color, and are 1-2-inches in length and very thin, according to our reader.
Red Larva is Indeed a Bloodworm, Though Concerns About Parasites are Raised
“Is this a bloodworm or a parasite?” asks this reader in his submission regarding the creature photographed below. The critter in question appears to be a bright red color, with a thin, segmented body that is seemingly quite bendy.
See-through Worm with Long Appendages in Toilet is a Bristle Worm
“We found this clinging to the toilet bowl” begins this reader in his query about the “clear and jellylike” worm he discovered. According to our reader, this alien creature is approximately 1/2-inches long and is “almost completely clear”.
Cream Colored, Tailed Worm in Toilet is a Rat-tailed Maggot
“What is this worm?” asks our reader about this cream-colored creature she put in a glass jar. The creature looks to be an ovate shape, with a thin tail emerging from one end of its body.
Noodle-Like Gray Worms in Swimming Pool May Be Roundworms
“I just found these after vacuuming my pool” says this reader about a tangle of gray worms pictured below in the photograph our reader sent us. “They are quite long and active” and are “at least two inches” in length. “What are they?” our reader asks.
Dead, Pink-Brown Worms by Kitchen Sink are Tubifex Worms
“What on Earth are these worms?” asks this reader, who found a batch of pinkish, dead worm-like creatures beside her kitchen sink. She has since cleaned the worms up and bleached her entire counter and sink.
Skinny, Red Worms in Sandbox in Florida are Midge Fly Larvae
Red worms were found in the sandbox of this reader’s daughter in the south of Florida; our reader wonders if he needs to be concerned about the worms, or if they are harmless. The worms in question are a bright red color, skinny, and vary in length from below an inch to “3 inches long”.
The Secret to Regeneration Lies With the Worms!
It is no secret that across the multitude of species of worms in the world, there are some that possess incredible abilities. These abilities have always been thought to be exclusive to these invertebrates and beyond the capabilities of a human being, until now.
New Species of Nematode Discovered with Three Sexes
In the human world, matters of gender and sex are topical and have been debated for many years, but it seems in the world of worms, they simply do not care. One such mascot of this is a new species of worm discovered in California which has three sexes.
Study of Laminatubus and Bispira Worms at Bottom of Ocean Floor Reveals Methane-Eating Methanotrophs
Recently have scientists discovered a deep-sea worm that, together with a bacteria, feeds on methane gas on the ocean floor. This article look at these findings and explore what we know so far about these worms.
Worms You Can Find in Your Food
Although worms make up the cuisine of several cultures across the globe, we Westerners typically do not regard worms as a tasty source of sustenance, especially if they were not supposed to be a part of our meal in the first place. Being surprised by a worm in your food can be an extremely unpleasant experience, and this article is going to provide some examples of the types of worms one can potentially find in their food.
3 Worms Which Would be Terrifying to Find in Your Home
Although most would argue that no species of worm is wanted in the home, there are some that are particularly scary to find in your home. This article will provide some examples of worms which would be a nightmare to find in your home, which we hope none of our readers will discover in their own homes.
Five of the Oddest Worms On Our Planet
The term ‘worm’ is typically used to classify any animal that has an elongated, cylindrical body with very little to no fur. In general, worms are already strange-looking enough, but this article will compile a short list of five of the oddest worms, both in terms of appearance and other factors.
Bloodworms: The Various Types and Why You Don’t Need to Fear them
When someone says ‘bloodworm’, it may not bring up the most pleasant of images if you have never seen one of these critters before; the word itself is somewhat creepy! This article will detail the various worms that fall under this umbrella term, and why they are not nearly as terrifying as their name makes them out to be.