“Can you tell me what kind of worm this is?” is all this reader asks in her submission regarding the long, yellow worm-like creature pictured below. Without any context as to the location it was discovered and to the concerns our reader might have with its discovery, it becomes very difficult to identify the organisms unless they are ones we commonly see and can identify solely by sight. Unfortunately, this is not a worm we have seen before (as far as we know), and so we will not be able to give a concrete identification. That said, we can still provide some educated guesses.
While most of the worm’s body looks like it could be round, one end of its body looks almost flat. As such, we entertained the idea that this could be a flatworm. Though in that case, it would be a really thin flatworm, as they are usually wider and not quite as long. On top of that, this worm does not look as slimy as flatworms usually are, though we suppose it could be a dried-up, dead one. Flatworms are predatory worms, and there are thousands of species across multiple habitats: some flatworms live underwater, some on land. Some are harmless, and some are parasites (eg: tapeworms). We have covered flatworms multiple times over the years, and to this day are one of the most fascinating worms in existence, mostly due to their incredible abilities, such as cellular regeneration.
With all of that said, if this is a flatworm, it could be a canary worm. Canary worms are found across Tasmania and Australia, even though they are flatworms, they are long and thin like this one. Like most flatworms, canary worms are predatory and eat small invertebrates. They are not known to be dangerous, but they can secrete toxins that can cause irritation and/or stinging, so, unless one wears gloves, we recommend avoiding making physical contact with the creature. If this was found inside our reader’s home, we suggest she scoop it onto a dustpan and move it outside.
To conclude, we think this could be a canary worm, though without any context, we cannot say this for certain. If our reader does not live in a location where these can be found, it is likely something else. In that case, we recommend she take the worm to her local county extension office to have it identified. Regardless, we hope something in here proves helpful, and we wish our reader the very best!
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I believe that this came from my head scLp . I have gotten two others almost identical people keep throwing them away . They think I’m nuts but I have the last one still in a jar with Lcohol .I need help somewhere .the Dr’s are not listening or testing me .
I am having the same symptoms except my toes turn blue red black, ans my lymph nodes are swollen everywhere It my metal health. SAYS EVERYONE INCLUDING THE DOCTORS. My kid’s don’t even believe me. My 2 dogs have it. I also think my kids have it. They won’t listen to me. I can barely see. I can hardly hear out of my right ear. My hair is falling out. I am dying, I just know it. I’ve lost so much weight. I can’t eat. Barely drink. I need help. When I am diagnosed my kids will get checked. And my puppies.
The worm I’m talking about is the one appearing as a canary worm I live in Florida Panama City I’m 55 female
I am the person who sent the pic with no other info I found two worms that day and this one was alive at first I believe that it is parasite and I t was in my house and I was at my friends when the otharer one fell in front of me on floor it is different and smaller I am aimlessly trying to identify something’s that are appearing in my life and are not anything that in 55 years I have ever seen nor anyone else either has seen I know your not medical professionals but they aren’t up to date on worms and you are I was told that it is not real it’s my imagination I am delusional I’ve been prescribed antipsychotic medication Wow if Ian delusional then how are you looking at my pic of what I’m imagining right. So with all this being said I am really interested in your take on what this could be as a parasite possibly a general idea as to what it could be in that aspect as well as the other possibilities please if you can help the doctors have not seen this and I no longer have it I have had several things and people keep throwing them away as to screw up me taking it to someone and it is a very difficult painful task to get these out and I never pulled one out they sorta pop out and land on floor or table or whatever. All sounds incredibally crazy but is true and I need help from someone I get all kinds of , I guess you can call it debris ,but these things are in it or around it and can be seen when magnified it appears as dirt to the normal eye this is in my head and I do pick at it and somehow it is affecting my eyesight my smells and it makes me sick a lot I have severe chills a lot and head pains confusion and I get extremely nauseous and I get so tired and I have wired pain in les feet and hands feeling if this crawling along scalp even a pinching sensation it is affecting my nervous system as well I’m scared and I just need to know what type of worm as to go get the proper help as it is in my head. Seven years now and I am feeling out because my life is being destroyed daily by this and I cannot take much more.