Continue Reading
Posted in Slugs Worms Facts Worms Generally

Slimy Creatures Regurgitated by California Kingsnake Could be Snails

“What in the world are these little wormlike creatures?” asks Erin in her submission regarding the translucent organism with black entrails pictured below. “Here’s the story of how we found them: My partner and I enjoy herpetology and going “field herping” to search for and photograph reptiles in the wild. We recently visited Whitewater, California and stumbled upon a small California kingsnake (lampropeltis getula californiae) crossing the road. Upon picking it up to take a closer look, we saw these tiny black/transparent worms coming out of the snake’s mouth. It was honestly horrifying, so I can only hope that this animal is able to survive in the wild. Anyway, the worms appeared more like leeches or slugs – I don’t see any segmentation. We have a cheap little USB endoscope that magnifies at 1000x, so I have included close-up photos, as well as a zoomed-out photo next to a penny for scale reference. It appears to me that the black substance is food, waste, or organs inside of a transparent creature. We hope you can identify this species, and help us understand the super interesting interaction between fauna that we witnessed! Thanks so much.”

Continue Reading
Posted in Garden Worms Slugs Worms Facts

“Shape-shifting” White Critter Could be a Baby Slug

“Found on my desk when my cat jumped down”, writes Beverly about the “shape shifting”, white organism pictured below. “Approximately 1/2 an inch when elongated. I tried to kill it with insect repellent – no effect. Put it on a tray to photograph. It made the shape of a round blob, then a flattened square, a triangle next, before finally reaching out from the blob when changing directions, from no set point.” Beverly sent us multiple photographs, a couple of which we have included below that show these different shapes the organism makes. Now, provided this creature is worm-like, it would be flexible enough to contort its body in many different ways, which is a more plausible explanation than shape-shifting. Many worm-like organisms, such as the earthworm, can flex and relax the muscles in their body, which will extend and shorten their bodies, which can look as if the worm is changing shape. Likewise, slugs are able to do the same; when they feel threatened, they can effectively withdraw their head and antennae into their bodies and become a “blob” where before they were an elongated shape.

Continue Reading
Posted in Flatworm Interesting Worms Slugs

Worms with Incredible Abilities

We think it goes without saying that a website that specializes in writing about worms holds a certain appreciation for worms. This appreciation may be something that is not reflected by the general public, but is something we want to change with this article, which will give a couple of examples of worms with abilities so extraordinary that one might have to reconsider their negative view on worms.

Continue Reading
Posted in Garden Worms Pest Worms Slugs

Remarkably Thin Slug Found in Battersea, London

“Blimey!” says this reader, who found “the thinnest slug” that he has ever seen. The slug in question appears to be minuscule in size, our reader including an “inch-wide star handrail” in the photograph he sent in for size comparison, and is a dark brown color.

Continue Reading
Posted in Gross Worms Leeches Slugs

Is Dead ‘Worm’ in Man’s Home a Slug or Leech?

A reader wonders if the creature in this photograph is a dead slug. From the photo we can tell that the creature has black coloration, a smooth exterior, a shape that is bulbous at the head but thins out towards the tail, and is small compared to the $10 bill our reader exhibited for size comparison.

Continue Reading
Posted in Garden Worms Interesting Worms Slugs

Baby Garden Slugs Cling to the Fur of this Woman’s Cat

Small, slimy worms have been found on the fur of this woman’s poor cat a number of times over the course of a few weeks. In the picture our reader sent in, we can see a minuscule, brown worm-shaped creature, with two antennae at its head, and a tubular body that thins out at the tail. Another thing worth noticing is the obvious split in color and texture along its middle, the upper half of the creature being a lighter brown than its lower half.

Continue Reading
Posted in Pest Worms Slugs

White Slimy Creature on Kitchen Floor May be an Underdeveloped Slug

A reader from the UK found a white, slimy-looking creature on her kitchen floor. The creature is inconsistent in shape, its body having a round, thicker middle and then thinning out to a tip on one end, and into a more circular shape on the other, which seems to be curled into the body. The latter end also has a black circle with a white middle, and seems to have some discoloration.

Continue Reading
Posted in Slugs

If You Lick a Banana Slug Your Tongue Goes Numb!

If you ever find yourself in the forests along the Pacific Northwest of the United States, look around on the ground and you might spot a banana slug crawling along, and if you are feeling especially like a dare devil, perhaps you will even lick it!

Continue Reading
Posted in Slugs

Black Worm On Asphalt Is A Slug

We are confident that the black worm-like organism our reader discovered is a slug. We think it could potentially be a black slug or a black velvet leatherleaf slug!

Continue Reading
Posted in Earthworms Slugs

What Is Worm Discovered After Steady Rain?

A reader sent us a photograph of two creatures she noticed on the side of her house after steady rain. We believe that one of these creatures is an earthworm and that the other is a leopard slug!

Continue Reading
Posted in Flatworm Slugs

“Worm” Found in Florida Garden Might be a Slug

One of our readers found a green slimy organism in her garden. We believe that the specimen is a slug!

Continue Reading
Posted in Slugs Worms Generally

Dead Black Creature is Probably a Slug

We received some very interesting pictures from a man who found a creature in his living room. The critter appeared to be dried out and dead. It was about 1.25” (~3.2cm) long. Its body was black in color, though its underside was brown. The interesting thing is that it has two or three hook-like appendages around its mouth. He has scoured the internet, but has not been able to identify it.