Community identification
Horsehair worm
Gordius robustus
- Order & Family
- Order: Gordiida; Family: Gordiidae
- Size
- Extremely thin (about 1 mm diameter) and ranging from 5 to 30 centimeters in length.
Natural Habitat
Typically found in damp areas like puddles, cisterns, watering troughs, and swimming pools.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae are internal parasites of insects like crickets or grasshoppers; adults do not feed.
Behavior Patterns
As larvae, they reside inside a host insect; as adults, they emerge near water to mate and lay eggs.
Risks & Benefits
They are harmless to humans, pets, and plants; they benefit the ecosystem by helping control insect populations.