“I found this worm on the hardwood floor”, writes Kelly in her submission regarding the long, thin worm-like creature pictured below. “We have a small Maltese so we were freaking out as it might be a simple earthworm or a parasite that came out of my dog! I checked my dog’s stool but didn’t see any signs of worms. The length was about 4+ inches. Thank you so much for your help!” Firstly, we want to thank Kelly ourselves for the photo and ample context. These factors always help us identify the worms we are asked about. And with that said, we think Kelly found a centipede.

Centipedes are predatory arthropods. What this means is that they hunt other animals, and that they have bodies protected by an exoskeleton, and which is segmented, with legs joined at each segment. These guys are known for their many legs, just like the millipede. The main physical difference between centipedes and millipedes is that a centipede’s legs grow from the sides of its body, while a millipede’s legs grow from its underside. Centipedes are not parasites, nor are they harmful to humans and pets. That said, they can ‘sting’ you with their pincer-like appendages near their head, which can cause a little pain, but centipedes of this size cannot do any real harm. They are more interested in hunting mites, flies, fleas, moths, and other insects. They would only sting a human or dog if they felt threatened by them. For that reason, it might be a good idea for Kelly to try to keep her dog from approaching the centipede.

Kelly will not have to worry about finding more centipedes as a result of this one’s intrusion. Centipedes are not only solitary creatures, but they actually become aggressive when there are other centipedes nearby. Some species of centipedes are so insistent on being alone that reproduction is done without physical contact, despite them being sexual creatures (and not asexual like some species of worms, like the flatworm). The male centipedes belonging to said species will deposit their sperm in a sort of sack (called a spermatophore) which a female centipede will later find and use in her own time. That said, sometimes the male centipede will deliver the spermatophore to a female himself, seducing her with a special mating dance. We do not know if the centipede Kelly found is this type of centipede: unfortunately the photo is not clear enough for us to identify its specific species. Even if it was, we would not be able to guarantee that we would be able to identify the species, as there are approximately 3000 species that have been identified, with more undiscovered species likely roaming the Earth.

In conclusion, the worm-like critter Kelly found is a centipede. They are not earthworms, nor are they parasites, so Kelly does not need to worry for her dog in that regard. Of course, the centipede could still pinch her Maltese, so it would be best to move the centipede outside. It likely entered Kelly’s home as it was chasing prey. With that said, if Kelly is still worried about her dog’s health in connection to the centipede, or any other organisms, we recommend taking her dog to the vet instead of consulting us about parasites. As we are not medical professionals, we are neither qualified nor legally able to identify parasites. We hope this helps, and we wish Kelly the very best!

Summary

Article Name

Long Worm with Antennae is a Centipede

Description

"I found this worm on the hardwood floor", writes Kelly in her submission regarding the long, thin worm-like creature pictured below. "We have a small Maltese so we were freaking out as it might be a simple earthworm or a parasite that came out of my dog! I checked my dog’s stool but didn’t see any signs of worms. The length was about 4+ inches. Thank you so much for your help!" Firstly, we want to thank Kelly ourselves for the photo and ample context. These factors always help us identify the worms we are asked about. And with that said, we think Kelly found a centipede.

Author

Worm Researcher Anton