We recently heard from a reader who discovered a red worm in his shower area. He said, “It’s easy to miss and almost like a thread or a thick strand of hair. It’s about 2-3 centimeters long.” He sent us a short video and picture and asked us a few questions. He wants to know what kind of worm he found, where it came from, and if it is harmful.
We can see that the worm perfectly matches the description our reader provided. So, what is this red creature? We are confident that its a bloodworm!
Bloodworms, or midge fly larvae, are named for their bright red color which is the result of hemoglobin (a red protein) in their skin. These larvae are typically discovered in shallow marine waters, but they do pop up in readers’ homes from time to time! Blood worms need a moist environment and decaying organic matter to feed on, so finding them in a shower makes a lot of sense.
We believe these bloodworms are probably feeding on the organic matter that has built up in the shower drain and corners. To get rid of the larvae our reader will need to vigorously clean his shower and bathroom to eliminate all of their potential food sources. We recommend that he use a cleaning agent that is designed to kill organic material and the proper cleaning tool to scrub away any grime.
Finally, we have no reason to believe that bloodworms are harmful to humans in a direct or aggressive matter. While bloodworms don’t bite or sting, they do have the potential to carry diseases that are harmful to humans. That being said, we believe it is quite unlikely that someone will encounter any health problems after being in contact with a bloodworm. Still, if our reader is experiencing any unusual symptoms, they should seek medical advice from a medical practitioner. We are not qualified to provide medical advice.
To wrap up, a reader found a thread-like red worm in his shower. We are confident that this is a bloodworm!
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Hi! I’m from Malaysia. I always discover some tiny thread-like red worms after shower from my bathroom. My question is it earth worm or is it human body worm?
From: JN Malaysia