“We have found these worms underneath the pavers around our pool”, writes this reader about the red worms covered in sand pictured below. “Do you know if they are blood worms? Also how do we get rid of them? They seem to be pushing moist dirt up through the pavers. Thanks!” Given the color of the worms and the location they were found, we would say it is likely that these are bloodworms. We cannot say this with 100% certainty, as we cannot really see the physical characteristics of the worms, seeing as they are covered in sand. But assuming these are bloodworms, we will do our best to give our reader the information she asks for.

The term ‘bloodworm’ doesn’t actually refer to just one species of worm, but is an umbrella term for all sorts of worms and worm-like creatures which share one common characteristic: their blood red color (though some of them are more pink). The reason they are this color is because they produce an excess amount of hemoglobin: the molecule in our blood that carries oxygen. What this means is that they can survive in low oxygen conditions because they can store up so much oxygen. For this reason, a lot of bloodworms can survive in water and are therefore found near bodies of water. Some species of bloodworm are even aquatic.

We cannot specify what species of bloodworm our reader found, given that we cannot see what they are, but we would say they are likely not aquatic, since they can survive on land too. To get rid of them, we would physically remove the worms she is finding under the pavers, and then treat the underside and topside of her pavers with diatomaceous earth. This is a naturally occurring rock that is sold in a powder-like substance. It has a similar effect to salt on worms, in that it can kill them. For that reason, it will discourage them from approaching certain areas, as they know to avoid that danger. If the problem continues, and the infestation starts to get out of hand, we recommend consulting a professional service to deal with the issue.

In conclusion, we agree with our reader that the red worms she is finding around her pool are bloodworms. Although we were unable to identify the specific species of bloodworm that they are, we hope that we were able to help to some extent. We wish our reader the very best!

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