Community identification
Horsehair worm (alternatively Gordian worm)
Phylum Nematomorpha
- Order & Family
- Class Gordiacea, Family Gordiidae (most common)
- Size
- 5 to 10 cm in length, though some can reach up to 2 meters, and 1 to 3 mm in diameter
Natural Habitat
Freshwater environments like streams, ponds, and puddles, but also found in damp soil
Diet & Feeding
As larvae, they are parasites of arthropods like grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles. Adults do not eat.
Behavior Patterns
The larvae live inside a host's body. Once mature, they influence the host's behavior to seek water, where the adult worm emerges to mate.
Risks & Benefits
They are harmless to humans, pets, and plants. They benefit ecosystems by controlling insect populations naturally.