Horsehair Worm
Gordius robustus (and other Chordodidae)
- Order & Family
- Order Gordiacea, Family Gordiidae
- Size
- 10 to 35 centimeters long, but can reach up to 1 meter in some species; extremely thin (1 to 3 millimeters).
Natural Habitat
Found in freshwater habitats like ponds, streams, puddles, and livestock troughs; they are often found near water or in damp soil after emerging from hosts.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae are internal parasites of arthropods like crickets and beetles, absorbing nutrients from the host's body. Adults do not eat and function only for reproduction.
Behavior Patterns
Larvae infect hosts through contaminated water/food. Once mature, they manipulate the host's behavior to seek water, where the worm then emerges. They are often seen undulating or knotting themselves together into 'Gordian knots' during mating.
Risks & Benefits
They are completely harmless to humans, livestock, and pets. They provide ecological benefits by naturally controlling populations of certain insects like crickets, grasshoppers, and cockroaches.