Community identification
Hookworm larva
Ancylostoma spp. / Necator americanus
- Order & Family
- Order: Strongylida, Family: Ancylostomatidae
- Size
- Larvae are microscopic, usually 0.5 to 0.6 mm in length.
Natural Habitat
Soil, especially moist, warm, sandy environments contaminated with human or animal feces.
Diet & Feeding
In the soil, they feed on organic matter and bacteria; inside a host, they feed on blood from the intestinal wall.
Behavior Patterns
Larvae hatch in soil and undergo several molts. They infect hosts by penetrating skin on contact, then migrate through the lungs to the intestines.
Risks & Benefits
Highly parasitic and harmful to humans. Infections cause anemia, abdominal pain, and Cutaneous Larva Migrans (visible creeping eruptions under the skin).