Continue Reading
Posted in Earthworms Segmented Worms Annelida Worms Found in the House

Long Black Worm in Toilet is an Earthworm

“Tonight I went to use the bathroom to urinate but when I looked down I noticed a living worm there”, writes Alberto in his submission regarding the dark, long, worm-like creature pictured below. “My first thought was that the worm came from me, and that it was a parasite (I did use the bathroom in the morning, but I didn’t use the bathroom until the night when I saw the worm), but when I started researching in Google it didn’t seem like the worm looked like the typical parasite that infects humans. Those seem to be white or cream, while this worm looks black with a bit of red and some transparent parts when it stretches. Also I didn’t have any symptoms the days before, like itching, however I did have some light digestive looseness the day before, but I think I’m pretty sure it was something I ate the same day, but I’m not sure though. I did take a dewormer just in case, but I would like to be sure if that worm could be a parasite that came from me. I’d leave a video and some other pics of the worm, thank you very much! I live in Monterrey, Mexico.”

Continue Reading
Posted in Flatworm Worms Facts Worms Generally

Long Worms Climbing Walls are Flatworms

“I keep finding these worms in my bathroom,” writes Chase in his submission regarding the long, thin worm pictured below. “First two times I was in the shower, then by my sink. I see them only on the walls. What are they? I am in Arizona.” The photo is somewhat blurry, so we cannot make out the finer details of the worm’s physical characteristics, but based on what we can see, as well as the fact that it is climbing Chase’s walls, we think this could be a flatworm. Generally speaking, flatworms are predatory creatures. We say generally speaking because there are thousands upon thousands of flatworms species and a good portion of those are parasites. Not to worry, most flatworm parasites cannot survive outside the body of a host, so when someone finds a flatworm in the wild, 99% of the time they will be a predator.

Continue Reading
Posted in Fishing Worms Worms Facts Worms Generally

Red Organism Could be Red Midge Fly Larva or Lint

“Can you help me identify what this thing might be that I found on my bathroom counter?” asks Linda in her submission regarding the photo she sent in below. “Sincerely appreciate your time and effort.” We were not sure what she was referring to in the photo below. There are some black, hair-like objects, as well as a red, lint-like object in the photo. But since Linda refers to the “thing” in the singular, we are going to assume she means the red thing. In our opinion, this does not look like an organism, but just like a piece of lint, but that could be because the photo is so blurry that the details of the organism’s identifying features are muddled, making it look like a piece of lint. Regardless, since the photo is as blurry as it is, we will not be able to provide a confident or accurate identification.

Continue Reading
Posted in Marine Worms Worms Facts Worms Generally

Bristly, Ovate Creature Found in Bathroom Look like Sea Mouse Larvae

“I’m based in the UK and found this in my bathroom”, writes Angela in her submission regarding the grayish, ovate creature pictured below. “I’ve found three so far and cannot find out what it is. My bathroom has a ledge away from the water source; one was found wiggling on the tiled ledge, and one was in an even more curious location: inside a clean container with some serialized items. The one pictured came from a plastic tray which I was cleaning out and, to be fair, this tray was quite dirty and had a pattern with ridges. It was about 4mm in length and didn’t appear to mind water. Is it a drain fly larva? I’ve posted how it moved on Reddit, linked below. Many thanks!” To start with, we have linked the video below that she posted on Reddit, and it is quite an interesting video. It looks like the organism is underwater, and yet the way it contracts its body and moves forward looks like it is dragging itself across a solid surface, rather than swimming.

Continue Reading
Posted in Drain Fly Larvae Parasite Worms Worms Found in the House

Small Black Worms Infesting Home are Drain Fly Larvae

“I have an infestation in my condominiums in Henderson, Nevada”, writes Jennifer in her submission regarding the mass of black, worm-like critters pictured below. “They are parasites and live in the walls, under sinks, even the toilet tank. I’ve been spraying and cleaning everything, and it keeps it bearable, but never gone. I recently found a spider in my front door area, and I think there is a nest of some sort right outside of my house. Please help me if you can.” Right off the bat, we have to say that we will only provide suggestions for the creatures’ identities under the assumption that they are not parasites.

Continue Reading
Posted in Interesting Bugs Worms Found in the House Worms Generally

Shiny, Gray Bugs on Bathroom Floor Could be Beetles or Silverfish

“For the past six months, I have been seeing these tiny worms, or creatures that look like worms, on my bathroom floor”, writes this reader concerning the gray critters pictured below. “They are not near the drain and that is what made me write to you, because I saw previous posts and you mention that these worms hang out near drains. We keep our bathroom clean, and once a month I put bleach down the drain with hot water. But I still see them come not only on the floor, but on the bathtub, sometimes on the window porch, they’re practically everywhere. I live in a house near London. Can you please advise what to do? Many thanks.”

Continue Reading
Posted in Carpet Beetle Larvae Worms Facts Worms Found in the House

Dark Brown-striped Worms in Bathroom Could be Carpet Beetle Larvae

“I am finding a ton of these tiny worms in my bathroom”, writes this reader in her submission regarding the tiny, dark brown critter pictured below. “I vacuumed and sprayed some pest spray, but within two days they’re back in full force (close to 100 worms will cluster up within a week). I’ve done this at least four times. I RARELY see them move. It’s like they show up and 90% are immediately dead? At first I thought it was drain fly larvae, but we’ve never seen a single drain fly. After seeing your articles on CARPET beetles, I’m noticing it looks identical, but it’s weird that it’s only by our toilet! We struggled last fall with cigarette beetles, but now I’m wondering if they were carpet beetles. Again, the beetles were only in the bathroom (but in the shower, not by the toilet). Help! Here are photos of the worms!”

Continue Reading
Posted in Drain Fly Larvae Worms Found in the House Worms Generally

Tiny Worms Crawling Around Sink Could be Drain Fly Larvae

“I found odd looking worms and possibly their offspring in our bathroom sink”, writes Vicki in her submission regarding the tiny worm-like creature pictured below. “I had never seen them before. I got one pretty good video that I will attach. Do you have any idea what they are? Also, can they be harmful to humans or dogs?” Now, we must say right off the bat that the quality of the video she sent in (from which the photo was taken) is of quite poor quality, meaning we cannot really see any of the worm’s physical characteristics, other than that it is worm-shaped. For that reason, we will only be able to provide an educated guess as to its identity.

Continue Reading
Posted in Parasite Worms Worms Facts Worms Generally

Long, Dark Worm in Sink Could be a Horsehair Worm

“I found this worm on my sink, what is it?” is all Shelley writes in her submission regarding the long, thin, dark-colored worm pictured below. Unfortunately, the photo is of a poor resolution, and the lighting is also poor, meaning that it is impossible for us to make out the finer details of the creature’s physical characteristics. Because of this, it becomes very difficult for us to identify the organism based on its appearance, and without any context, it becomes virtually impossible.

Continue Reading
Posted in Flatworm Worms Facts Worms Generally

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.

Continue Reading
Posted in Centipedes and Millipedes Worms Facts Worms Found in the House

Segmented, Brown Creature Found on Toilet Paper Could be a Duff Millipede

“I have been trying to find someone to identify what type of worm this is”, states this reader in her submission regarding the segmented, brown creature pictured below. “It is possible that it was stuck to my clothes or even the toilet paper, but I found it when wiping. I went to the doctor and the ER and they couldn’t figure out what it was either. I searched the site and found some that look like it, but I’m not 100% sure since this one had markings and I couldn’t seem to find any with similar markings.” Based on the picture alone, we would have concluded that this is a duff millipede. These critters feed on decomposing organic matter such as fungi and algae, and are not harmful to humans. Typically, they live in tree bark or under nettles, but they have been known to invade people’s homes. Like most species of millipedes, they will do this if the conditions outside grow to warm and dry, which is why they typically seek shelter in basements or garages, where it is cool and dry.

Continue Reading
Posted in Worms Facts Worms Found in the House Worms Generally

Cream-colored Worms Found Inside a Two Year-old Bar of Soap

“What are the cream-colored worms I found in an old chunk of ‘natural soap’?” asks this reader about the organisms pictured below. “I live in the Niagara Region of southern Ontario, Canada.”

Continue Reading
Posted in Parasite Worms Worms Facts Worms Generally

Black, Thread-like Worms Found in Ant Faeces are Likely Parasites of Insects

“I keep finding these black, thread-like worms in my bathtub”, states this reader about the multitude of minuscule worms pictured below next to the black insect. “And always in the poop of a dead ant or other dead bug that may have got in.”

Continue Reading
Posted in Caterpillars Fishing Worms Worms Found in the House

Long-tailed, Black and White-striped Worms Found on Bathroom Floor are a Mystery

“Found about 10 of these on my bathroom floor”, states this reader about the black and white-striped worm-like creatures pictured below. “Less than a centimeter each.”

Continue Reading
Posted in Carpet Beetle Larvae Drain Fly Larvae Worms Found in the House

Bristly, Dark Brown Creatures Crawling All Over Bathroom are Carpet Beetle Larvae

“I keep finding these small caterpillar-like bugs in my bathroom”, states this reader in her submission regarding the bristly, brown worm-like creature pictured below. “Found two in the bathtub, one in the toilet and most just crawling on the tile floor.”

Continue Reading
Posted in Earthworms Segmented Worms Annelida Worms Found in the House

Long, Red Worm Found in Toilet is an Earthworm

“What is this?” is all this reader asks in his submission to us. He asks about a long, red worm-like organism that looks like it was found in a toilet.

Continue Reading
Posted in Centipedes and Millipedes Parasite Worms Pinworm

Mother Worries About Pinworms After Finding a Segmented, Green-Gray Worm in her Bathtub

“This one centimeter-long worm-like creature was found in my mother’s tub today and on a few previous occasions”, says this reader about the segmented, green-gray creature in the photograph below. Our reader’s mother is concerned that these are pinworms, and our reader wonders if we can verify whether or not these are millipedes, centipedes or indeed pinworms.

Continue Reading
Posted in Centipedes and Millipedes Worms Facts Worms Found in the House

Gray, Segmented Insects with Many Legs Constantly Appearing in Bathtub are Duff Millipedes

“What type of insect is this that is constantly appearing in my bathtub?” is all this reader asks in her submission. Her questions pertains to the brownish-gray creature with multiple legs and a white tip pictured below.

Continue Reading
Posted in Centipedes and Millipedes Worms Found in the House Worms Generally

Brown Worm with Antennae Found in Sink is a Baby Centipede

“Found in bathroom sink”, states this reader in North Carolina about the minuscule, reddish-brown creature pictured below. The organism has a slender body, and a pair of antennae atop a lighter-colored head.

Continue Reading
Posted in Earthworms Segmented Worms Annelida Worms Found in the House

Short, Brown Worm Found in Shower May be a Bloodworm

“I live in Austin Texas and found this worm in my shower. It was about 2 inches long”, states this reader with regard to the long, pink-brown worm-like creature photographed below. “Do you know what kind of worm this is?”