“What kind of a worm is this?” asks this reader about the light brown, segmented, worm-like critter pictured below. “It’s tan and one-inch long, with legs in the front and back that crunch when killed. Found on the floor. We live in Vermont and they have just been showing up lately (March and April).” Naturally, we have gotten to this submission very late, as it was sent last spring, so perhaps this issue has already been resolved. In any case, we still wish to cover the story, in the case that other readers have found similar things, or will find similar things this upcoming spring, and wish to know what it is.

We think this is a mealworm. Mealworms are not technically worms, despite the name. They are actually the larvae of darkling beetles. Their diet consists of rotting fruits and vegetables, but also grains, meats, and just about any food we consume and would throw away, which makes them a popular purchase for vermicomposting (the process of using worms to compost one’s organic waste, to later use as fertilizer in a garden). They are completely harmless, so that is not something that needs to be worried about. They will typically show up if there is organic debris left to rot for a long period of time. Of course, since our reader seems only to have found one, it could be that this long mealworm found its way into the home accidentally: maybe on the clothing or shoes of our reader, or on the fur of a pet.

Mealworms are really important to the ecosystem, just like earthworms. They play a similar role, as they ‘recycle’ (in a sense) the organic waste we produce and return it to the earth as nutrient-rich droppings. For these reasons, we definitely do not recommend killing mealworms. Instead, we recommend moving any that are found outside, and just making sure that one’s home is clean and free of any organic debris. If mealworms seem to be gathering in one spot in the home, it is probably a sign that there is something sitting there and rotting. If our reader finds more mealworms, it might be a good idea to do a deep clean of her home.

In conclusion, the segmented, tan worm our reader found is a mealworm. These critters are harmless benefactors of the environment and should not be killed. Since our reader just found one, we think it is likely that it ended up here accidentally, though it is worth checking the rest of the home for any other roaming worms. We hope this helps, and we wish our reader the very best!

Summary

Article Name

Tan, Segmented Worm is a Mealworm

Description

"What kind of a worm is this?" asks this reader about the light brown, segmented, worm-like critter pictured below. "It's tan and one-inch long, with legs in the front and back that crunch when killed. Found on the floor. We live in Vermont and they have just been showing up lately (March and April)." Naturally, we have gotten to this submission very late, as it was sent last spring, so perhaps this issue has already been resolved. In any case, we still wish to cover the story, in the case that other readers have found similar things, or will find similar things this upcoming spring, and wish to know what it is.

Author

Worm Researcher Anton