Horsehair worm

Found in aquatic or damp environments such as streams, ponds, puddles, and cattle troughs, as well as emerging from terrestrial hosts.

Larvae are internal parasites of insects and crustaceans; adults do not eat as they lack functional digestive systems.

Larvae develop inside an insect host (like a cricket or beetle). Once mature, they manipulate the host's behavior to seek water, where the adult worm emerges to mate and lay eggs.

Generally harmless to humans, pets, and plants. They are beneficial to the ecosystem as they help control populations of insects like crickets and grasshoppers.