Bloodworm (Non-biting midge larva)

Stagnant or slow-moving freshwater bodies with muddy bottoms and low oxygen levels.

Scavengers that feed on organic debris, algae, and microscopic organisms in the sediment.

They use hemoglobin to store oxygen, giving them their red color; they live in silk tubes in the mud and undergo complete metamorphosis into flies.

Crucial food source for fish and waterfowl; can indicate poor water quality but pose no physical risk to humans.