“I’ve been searching for an answer to what this worm is, since I’ve been seeing it sometimes since a few weeks ago”, writes Martin in his submission regarding the red worm pictured below. “I’m from Montevideo, Uruguay, and I found only three or four of them since I’ve started seeing it, this being the longest (like 25-30 mm). I’m worried because I don’t know a lot of worms (they disgust me) and I don’t know where they come from, but from reading some of your posts and comparing photos, it looks like a bloodworm. Still, I want a professional opinion. I found one in the bathroom sink, another one on the bathroom floor, and the third one, believe it or not, was up on the bathroom wall, close to the ceiling and the little bathroom window. The fourth one was down on the wall close to the floor and close to my house entrance; all of this in the duration of almost a month or so.

“Should I be worried? Is it a bloodworm or an earthworm? (That question seems like a common occurrence in this community). I don’t really think it’s a parasite, because… the ceiling? The entrance wall? I mean come on, I give them credit for being what they are, but these worms are really good explorers. I hope you can answer this question and give some guidance, because it makes me nervous just thinking about worms. I’m so sorry, I know you like them. And I sincerely doubt that the Indiana-Jones-esque worms came from my insides or something like that. Thanks for the help! Have a nice day!”

To begin with, we have to thank Martin for the great photo and the bountiful context. It always helps us identify the worms we are asked about. On top of that, we have to say that we found his submission pretty amusing, which we are also grateful for. And he absolutely does not have to apologize for not liking worms. We tend to assume that most of our readers are not big fans of worms, as most people aren’t, and that’s totally okay! We also completely understand getting nervous around worms. We would say that Martin has definitely been finding earthworms, and they could also be bloodworms simultaneously. The term ‘bloodworm’ does not actually describe one specific phylum of worms, but rather is a term used to describe any worm that is red in color due to its ability to survive in low-oxygen conditions. And to be clear, earthworms are not parasites, so Martin was correct in assuming that they weren’t.

The reason people can find earthworms in their bathroom is because there is a leak in the piping somewhere underground. That leak can be faraway or it can be nearby. Signs of a nearby leak include discolored water, foul-tasting or -smelling water, and inconsistencies in water temperature and pressure. If Martin notices any of these signs, he might want to contact a professional to deal with it. Additionally, why earthworms choose specific pipes and toilets to surface in has to do with the amount of organic build up that is present. Martin will want to make sure he consistently cleans the toilets and all of his drains, so as to prevent this build up. Now, the reason the earthworms are climbing the wall is because they are trying to get to more favorable conditions. Earthworms are, to the consternation of many, excellent climbers, and will have no problem scaling people’s walls. Until the potential leak is addressed, Martin will want to keep the lid on his toilet closed, so as to prevent the earthworms from escaping and climbing up his walls.

In conclusion, the worms Martin found all over his bathroom are earthworms. They are not dangerous, but we understand that they are nonetheless unpleasant and unwelcome guests. We hope this helps, and we wish Martin the very best!

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