Red Worms in Horse Trough are Red Midge Fly Larvae

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“I found these in my horse trough”, writes Karen about the red worm-like critters pictured below. “They seem to have ‘casings’ of some sort that seem to be ‘absorbed’ by the plastic/rubber trough itself. There are strange “scratch lines” on the side of the trough, and these lines I have noticed elsewhere in my barn. Is it a pinworm? Can pinworms be transmitted through different types of materials? Please, tell me everything. I am in Stafford, Virginia, and these worms were in water. It is October, and the weather has been pleasant. There was recently a huge amount of rain with Hurricane Ian. Can these worms get into wood? Is this the larval stage of something else? Thank you!”

Based on Karen’s story, as well as the excellent photo she provided, we have identified these worms as bloodworms. Now, despite their macabre name, bloodworms are relatively harmless. Of course, the name does not just refer to one specific type of worm, but an entire group of worms all characterized by their blood-red color. Where do they get this color? Fittingly, they get it from producing as much hemoglobin as they do (or a molecule like hemoglobin) – the protein in our red blood cells that transmits oxygen throughout our body. Because of this excess production, bloodworms can survive in low oxygen conditions for longer than other species of worms, which is why they can survive in water like the worms Karen found.

Some species of bloodworms are not really worms at all, like the red midge fly larvae. We think what Karen found in her horse trough are red midge fly larvae. Due to other midge fly species having a reputation for biting, the red midge fly is often mistaken for sharing that quality when they do not. Red midge fly larvae are completely harmless. Unlike the pinworms Karen asks about (which are parasitic roundworms), red midge fly larvae are not parasites, and they are not venomous. They just like to show up in stagnant water (particularly on farms) and feed on the decomposing organic matter that collects at the bottom. They are completely harmless. On top of that, they do not burrow into wood, so she does not need to worry about that. What we recommend that Karen do is simply drain the trough, and make sure that she regularly does so, and that she regularly cleans the trough. This will keep red midge fly larvae from being attracted to this spot.

To conclude, the red worms Karen found in her horse’s trough are red midge fly larvae. They are nothing to worry about, though their presence does indicate that the trough needs cleaning. We hope this helps and we wish Karen, and her horses, the very best!

 

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Summary
Red Worms in Horse Trough are Red Midge Fly Larvae
Article Name
Red Worms in Horse Trough are Red Midge Fly Larvae
Description
"I found these in my horse trough", writes Karen about the red worm-like critters pictured below. "They seem to have 'casings' of some sort that seem to be 'absorbed' by the plastic/rubber trough itself. There are strange “scratch lines” on the side of the trough, and these lines I have noticed elsewhere in my barn. Is it a pinworm? Can pinworms be transmitted through different types of materials? Please, tell me everything. I am in Stafford, Virginia, and these worms were in water. It is October, and the weather has been pleasant. There was recently a huge amount of rain with Hurricane Ian. Can these worms get into wood? Is this the larval stage of something else? Thank you!"
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