
Community identification
Pinworm
Enterobius vermicularis
- Order & Family
- Order: Rhabditida, Family: Oxyuridae
- Size
- 2 to 13 millimeters in length
Natural Habitat
The human large intestine; during the night, females migrate to the perianal area to lay eggs.
Diet & Feeding
Pre-digested material in the human intestine and intestinal bacteria.
Behavior Patterns
Nematodes that live in the colon. Females travel to the anus at night to deposit thousands of sticky eggs on the surrounding skin.
Risks & Benefits
Causes enterobiasis, characterized by intense itching in the perianal region; highly contagious among children and household members.