Tag: Flatworm
Worm Covered in Sand on Mexico Beach Could be Flatworm or Sand Mason Worm
“I found this guy schlepping along a beach in Mexico”, writes this reader about the creature pictured below. “What the heck is it?” Well, we are wondering the same thing. If it weren’t for our reader stating that there was an organism in the photo, we definitely would have missed it. It just looked like a slightly raised portion of sand. For that reason, there is no identifying information in the photo, since we cannot see the actual worm. That said, it does bring to mind some possible identifications.
Brown-striped Worm in Bathroom is a Flatworm
“What kind of worm is this?” asks our reader, Aizen, in his submission regarding the long, brown-striped worm-like creature pictured below. “I found it in our bathroom. At first, I thought it was a tile grout that came out but upon closer inspection, it had a round head. Hope you can help and inform me if my family is in danger of parasites. Thanks!” To start with, we want to thank our reader for the excellent photo and video he sent us – they give us a really clear picture of what the organism looks like and how it moves, which helps us come to a conclusion with regard to its identity.
Thin Black Worms Appearing on Dirt May Be New Guinea Flatworms
“Small, thin, black worms” of approximately 1-2-inches have been showing up in our reader’s backyard. This is a new occurrence for our reader, as it has only been happening for the past “couple of months”, and our reader wonders if they are “good worms or bad worms.”
Black Worm with Pinkish Underside Found on Bathroom Floor May be a Flatworm, Earthworm or Brahminy Blind Snake
“What kind of worm did I find on my bathroom floor?” asks this reader about the black worm with the gray-pink underside in the photo below. She says that she is “super freaked out”, so we will do our best to put our reader’s mind at ease.
Man Discovers Small White Worm with Black Stripe Down its Middle
A man found a “worm/larva” on his table and hopes that we can help identify it. Although it is difficult to tell from the photos provided, the worm appears to be white with a black stripe down its middle, and is either flat in shape, or has been flattened by something.
What Are Slimy Brown Worms?
We aren’t sure about the identity of the specimens our reader discovered. One looked a little bit like a flatworm, but the other one (or ones) did not. We need more information in order to figure out what these creatures are.
Black Flatworm with Brown Underside in Backyard
A reader in south Louisiana wrote us a question a few days ago about a black worm with a brown underside that he found in his backyard. The worm is about three or four inches (seven to ten centimeters) long, and its body is flat. The reader was wondering what type of worm he found, and if it is parasitic. The latter concern is connected to his dog, who has had issues before with worm infections. We’ll do our best to address both issues, which are of course related.
Why are Flatworms Called Flatworms? Because They are Flat Worms
Some time ago, a reader wrote to us to ask a blessedly straightforward question: why are planarians and flukes called flatworms? Taken one way, this is the simplest question imaginable: planarians and flukes are called flatworms because they are flatworms (just as, say, trout and salmon are fish because they are fish). In other words, both planarians and flukes are simply members of the phylum Platyhelminthes, which are more commonly known as flatworms, and that’s why they are called flatworms. We suspect, however, that our reader wasn’t driving at such a simple question. Instead, we suspect he meant to ask why any flatworm (planarians, flukes, or otherwise) is called a flatworm. And so, without further ado, why are flatworms called flatworms?
Hammerhead Worms: Are They Harmful or Dangerous?
A reader from South Africa (Durban, South Africa, more precisely) wrote to us about two hammerhead worms that he found in his home. He was wondering if hammerhead worms are harmful or dangerous to animals or babies, and he was also keen to discover what is causing them to enter his home. So, the question before us is this: are hammerhead worms harmful to humans or animals (like pets), and how do you get rid of hammerhead worms? (Technically, the reader didn’t ask how to get rid of hammerhead worms, but he was wondering how they got into his house, and in answering the latter we also answer the former.)
Flatworms, of the Phylum Platyhelminthes
Flatworms, sometimes spelled “flat worms” (in defiance of the standard spelling, we might add), are unsegmented, bilaterian (their bodies have bilateral symmetry), soft-bodied inveterate animals that belong to the phylum Platyhelminthes. They have no specialized respiratory or circulatory organs, and they lack a body cavity. Through the process of diffusion, their flattened bodies (hence the name “flatworms”) absorb oxygen and nutrients. Because of these biological features, flatworms are considered very simple animals.
Flatworm Types
Land-dwelling flatworms can be spotted in the early morning hours, especially after a hard rain. They are nocturnal, however, and they love wet surfaces.
How to Get Rid of Flatworms in Your Aquarium
of the main obstacles with flatworm control is the alarming rate at which they reproduce. All they have to do is split in two to multiply. There are no mating rituals and no eggs to hatch.
Types of Flat Worms
Flat worms are native to Indo-China, but they travel around the world by hitching a ride in greenhouse plants. For the most part, flat worms can survive just about anywhere, so no one region is 100 percent safe.
What is a Flat Worm?
A flat worm, also spelled “flatworm,” is native to Indo-China, but it makes its way around the world by traveling in greenhouse plants. For the most part, flat worms can survive just about anywhere, so no one region is 100% safe.
How to Get Rid of the Flat Worm
The flat worm is usually medium-brown in color with dark markings or stripes. Some worms may appear gray to greenish/gray as well. All types feed on earthworms, so beware.
Is That Speckled Worm a Flatworm?
If you noticed a white speckled worm writhing or darting around in your soil or in a body of water, chances are it was a flatworm. This thin creature may look complicated, but flatworms are actually the simplest of all worm groups.
Methods to Treat Flatworms in Your System
While the flatworm is considered the simplest of the worm groups, there is nothing simple about getting rid of them if you have an infestation. These pesky creatures reproduce at an alarming rate by simply splitting in two. There are no mating rituals and no eggs to hatch. When the flatworm splits, it immediately forms a new flatworm, and so on and so on, until you have thousands of flatworms in your system. This means that the flatworms may be feeding off of your fishes’ skin and eyes, so all of the fish in your system will eventually die.
Flat Worms
Flat worms, or flatworms, are simple organisms and were the first to develop a true worm shape. Of the many thousands of flatworm species, tapeworms and flukes are perhaps the most widely recognized.