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Horsehair worm

Gordiacea (Nematomorphora)

Photo by KarenL
Published on Project Noah
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35.8987, -86.9624

Field Notes

Description:

12" long needle thin worm found in mulch. Dry to the touch & very wriggly - It was literally tying itself in knots while I was holding it taking photos.
It's currently living in a bucket while I try & ID it & find out if it is a friend or foe!

Reference Links:

HORSEHAIR WORMS

Species ID Suggestions

Horsehair Worm

Gordiacea (Nematomorphora)

Reference Link
Mark Ridgway
3

Comments (15)
KarenL
Some more info! These worms have an interesting life cycle beginning as eggs in water. When an insect, such as a roach, cicada, beetle, grasshopper, or cricket, eats a worm cyst, the cyst hatches releasing the larval worm. The parasitic larva eats its' host and develops into an adult worm throughout the year. When the host is ready to die, it goes to water. As it comes in contact with water, the adult worm (which can be up to 2 feet long!) leaves the host's body. When the male and female mate, the female lays her eggs in the water and the cycle starts all over again. I'm not sure how this one ended up so far from water though!
KarenL
Wow ulvalactuca77, I just checked out a video on youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df_iGe_JSzI As you say, disturbing yet very interesting to watch. It is amazing that the host was alive until the point the worm eclosed!
ulvalactuca77
There are videos of these creatures escaping their hosts on youtube if you care to investigate. As a warning, I find them slightly disturbing but also amazing.
KarenL
That must have been an amazing sight Aahangar! You have described them very well- this one was very dry & rigid - I was surprised at the strength of such a fragile looking creature!
Aahangar
about 15 years ago once I was stuck for few days in the north side of Salang pass which connects Kabul to north of Afghanistan. there was raining and storm. after few days the clouds disappeared and sun was shining. suddenly thousands of this thin worm; exactly like as they are in the pictures, appeared every where. they were very dry and rigid.
KarenL
It's the first one I've ever seen Emma - I've just released him back into the garden! :)
KarenL
Argy Bee, I was lucky to spot it - I though it was an elastic band at first! Carol, yes very bizarre! It's been a weird couple of days - my first US slug, a stink bug, bizarre worm, dead turtle....! Thanks Leuba! Lori, I'm glad I didn't get to see what poor creature was it's host!
KarenL
Thanks Argy Bee! I'll release it now I know it's a native & not an invasive!
lori.tas
I found one in my fish pond once, and was so freaked by it that I took it to a biologist friend to identify. It came out of a grasshopper that died in the pond.
Mark Ridgway
Nice series of pics btw... and wouldn't it be just too easy to cut one of these by accident!
Mark Ridgway
ok got it and best of all it sounds like it's a friend - congratulations
Mark Ridgway
Wow!? Very interesting thingy.... can't wait to ID this one.
Photographed
PublishedDecember 20, 2011

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