Pinworm

Natural Habitat

The human gastrointestinal tract, specifically the large intestine and rectum.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on intestinal contents and mucosal secretions within the human host.

Behavior Patterns

Adult females migrate out of the anus at night to lay thousands of eggs in the perianal folds. The eggs become infectious within hours and are spread through the fecal-oral route via contaminated hands, clothing, or bedding.

Risks & Benefits

Causes enterobiasis, characterized by intense anal itching (pruritus ani) and restless sleep. While usually not dangerous, they are highly contagious among household members and can lead to secondary skin infections from scratching. They provide no known benefits to humans.

Identified on: 6/3/2026