Any entomologist here? Strange 'worm'... (1 Viewer)

scampo

Steve Campsall

• Jun 1, 2004

• #1

I've just seen the oddest creatures in our garden. They are worm-like larvae (?) about ten centimetres in length but merely perhaps 0.2mm in diameter. I thought they were just fine roots or even hairs until I noticed them swaying and moving slowly.

Any ideas what they are? I shall try to post a photo later - but they are so fine as to hardly be noticeable.

 

alan_rymer

Well-known member

• Jun 1, 2004

• #2

urrgh
Sounds like something that should be stamped on!.
Is it anything like this?.
http://www.csl.gov.uk/prodserv/cons/plant/flatworm.cfm
http://flatworm.csl.gov.uk/gallery.htm

 

scampo

Steve Campsall

• Jun 1, 2004

• #3

Nothing at all like that, Alan - so very fine in width bit long in length - some up to, perhaps, 12cm. My son - keen on insects as he is - was equally surprised. Maybe they are baby triffids - there were some bright stars about yesterday evening...

 

scampo

Steve Campsall

• Jun 1, 2004

• #4

Here is a photo - you can just make out the white thread-like worm on the scabious flower.

 

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birdman

Орнитол&

• Jun 1, 2004

• #5

I've no idea what it is Steve, but I notice the area is very moist.

As soon as I "hovered" over your post and saw the description it reminded me of something I saw many years ago in a puddle somewhere in Scotland... basically a good dozen of these (or something very similar) writhing away in the water.

I'd be interested if anyone comes up with anything!

 

SleepyLizard

Well-known member

• Jun 1, 2004

• #6

I seen some like that on my garden bench once and assumed they were some sort of parasitic worm dropped from/through a bird.

 

steve_nova

Well-known member

• Jun 1, 2004

• #7

Almost certainly an eelworm or nematode of some sort. Too big to be a free-living species and probably more likely as Alan has suggested, a large parasitic species that has recently "emerged" from some poor unfortunates bottom!

 

steve_nova

Well-known member

• Jun 1, 2004

• #8

The host could be anything from a large caterpillar, amphibian, reptile, bird or mammal depending on species (if that is indeed what it is).

If you find a dead bird of mammal carcass nearby, it might have just abandoned ship

 

scampo

Steve Campsall

• Jun 1, 2004

• #9

Thanks to you all. My son, Nick, also thought they were a parasitic nematode of some sort. No dead bodies nearby, but there was a small green caterpillar that seemed to be eating the worms rather than harbouring them. We do have cats, though - and haven't wormed them recently. I think we will - tomorrow!

I was thinking that if they had emerged from that particular animal orifice, there might have been several hundreds of them rather than just the few that there were.

 

Last edited: Jun 1, 2004

birdman

Орнитол&

• Jun 1, 2004

• #10

I think I gonna stop reading this thread... I've gotta sleep tonight!!!!

 

scampo

Steve Campsall

• Jun 1, 2004

• #11

Sleep tight and sweet dreams, eh?

(-:

 

steve_nova

Well-known member

• Jun 1, 2004

• #12

Hope the bugs don't bite!

 

scampo

Steve Campsall

• Jun 2, 2004

• #13

I'm more worried they'll get to places other bugs won't reach!

 

CJW

Hit-and-run WUM

• Jun 2, 2004

• #14

I think they're "Gouldian Knot" worms. A nematode.

 

Last edited: Jun 2, 2004

SleepyLizard

Well-known member

• Jun 2, 2004

• #15

CJW said:

I think they're "Gouldian Knot" worms. A nematode.

Click to expand...

I tried looking that up. Do you mean Gordian Worms?
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2112.html

 

scampo

Steve Campsall

• Jun 2, 2004

• #16

Thanks, Chris. That's a rare thing - 'Gouldian Knot' nematode - a name not immediately showing up on a Google search. Do you know which species acts as the carrier to this worm?

While searching, though, I did come upon this fascinating web site:

http://nematode.unl.edu/nemakey.htm

Thanks again for your help. It does seem that the warm, damp soil of yesterday evening was what brought them to the surface.

 

CJW

Hit-and-run WUM

• Jun 2, 2004

• #17

SleepyLizard said:

I tried looking that up. Do you mean Gordian Worms?
[/QUOTE]

That's the kiddie's, sorry for the mis-spell.

Click to expand...

 

scampo

Steve Campsall

• Jun 2, 2004

• #18

SleepyLizard said:

I tried looking that up. Do you mean Gordian Worms?
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2112.html

Click to expand...

That helped - found it! Thanks Alan and all.

And I think I have the answer. The gordian worm infests snails and slugs... and I've been killing a few of them recently as my newly planted border was being seen as hors d'oeuvre by my slug population. They appeared first next to a slime trail from a slug.

Looking at that site, and at the activity of the worms, I think I might have found the species, mermis nigrescens.

 

Last edited: Jun 2, 2004