Horsehair Worm

Freshwater environments like streams, ponds, puddles, and troughs; may also be found near moist surfaces after emerging from hosts.

Larvae are parasites of insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, and beetles; adults do not eat and focus only on reproduction.

Found as adults in water knotted together during mating; they manipulate their host to seek water when the worm is mature enough to emerge and live independently.

Harmless to humans, pets, and plants. They are beneficial to ecosystems by helping to control populations of various insects.