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Nematode

Mermithidae

Photo by RiekoS
Published on Project Noah
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42.2695, -74.7268

Field Notes

Description:

Mermithids are parasites, mainly of arthropods. Most are known from insects, but some are recorded from spiders, scorpions and crustaceans. A few are known to parasitize earthworms, leeches and molluscs, and a specimen is known from a spider preserved in forty million-year old Baltic amber. At least 25 species are known to parasitize mosquito larvae, making them of considerable interest in biological control. - from Wikipedia

Notes:

When you look at my video, you will know why I was scared to see this.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (21)
RiekoS
Thank you so very much for all of your help, Scott Frazier. It is quite educational and since I found this creature in my place, I am glad to know and aware of all these information. Project Noah is such a great place to be!
Scott Frazier
Very interesting! But these cases are rare, and species are very few I think. I saw reference made to 3 species from the family, as "pseudoparasites" (of man) in the 2003 reference http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9780203458341 i.e. in this case, accidental parasites, so I don't think you have anything to worry about :-) BTW I moved your spotting to "other" because that's the group for nematodes.
RiekoS
I was afraid of that. Here is what I have found in internet. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/pre-wholis/WHO_HELM_75.2_WHO_VBC_75.564.pdf
HemaShah
Reiko, i believe these can dwell inside a human body?
RiekoS
Thank you so much for your kind comment Lipase. I appreciate it.
RiekoS
Thank you very much for your comment. I changed the common name to "Nematode".
Lipase
another very cool spotting!
Scott Frazier
This is a very cool spotting! For "common name" I suggest simply "nematode".
RiekoS
@ChunXingWong: "Cute"? I was terrified by this. I am not as brave as you are ;-)
RiekoS
Thank you very much Rosa Maria. I am now glad that I posted this.
RiekoS
I am not certain, but I would say about 6".
beaker98
About how long is it Rieko? I hope I don't have anything like this around me!
RiekoS
Thank you very much beaker98. This was something I did not want to see, but since I saw it, I had to share.
beaker98
That's amazing Rieko! Great find!
RiekoS
@ Gilma Jeannette Ospino Ferreira-Norman: I did not mean to disturb you. I posted this as warning/preparation for someone who might see it for the first time.
RiekoS
@Sckel: This was my very first time seen this and I was terrified. I hope this is a useful one, not harmful to us.
Sckel
very nice. I had never seen it. Thanks for sharing the video
Photographed
PublishedJune 5, 2014

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