Horsehair worm

Found in standing or slow-moving water, puddles, and moist soil. They are parasites of insects as juveniles.

In the larval stage, they are internal parasites of arthropods like crickets and beetles. Adults do not eat.

Larvae grow inside a host. When mature, they influence the host's behavior to find water, where the worm emerges to mate. They are known for knotting their bodies into 'Gordian knots'.

They are harmless to humans, pets, and plants. They are beneficial to ecosystems as they help regulate populations of crickets and grasshoppers.