Horsehair Worm

Freshwater environments such as ponds, streams, troughs, and damp soil; larvae are parasitic within insects.

Larvae are internal parasites that absorb nutrients from insect hosts (crickets, beetles, grasshoppers); adults do not eat.

Parasitizes terrestrial insects, then manipulates the host to enter water where the adult worm emerges to mate. They often appear to knot themselves (Gordian knots).

Harmless to humans, pets, and plants; they act as a natural biological control for certain insect populations.