Community identification
Horsehair Worm (Gordian Worm)
Paragordius varius (or general Gordius species)
- Order & Family
- Gordioidea / Chordodidae (Phylum Nematomorpha)
- Size
- 10 to 100 cm (4 to 39 inches) long, but extremely thin (1 to 3 mm wide)
Natural Habitat
Moist terrestrial environments, puddles, streams, troughs, and inside host insects like crickets or beetles
Diet & Feeding
Parasitic in juvenile stage, consuming host body tissue; adults do not feed
Behavior Patterns
Larvae parasitize arthropods such as crickets and grasshoppers. Upon reaching adulthood, they manipulate host behavior to seek water, where the worm emerges to reproduce.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans, pets, and plants. Benefits ecosystems by helping control populations of host insects like crickets and grasshoppers.