Horsehair worm
Scientific Name: Gordius sp. (within Phylum Nematomorpha)
Order & Family: Order Gordioidea, family varies
Size: 10 to 35 centimeters (4 to 14 inches) long, but very thin (1-3 mm)
Natural Habitat
Found in freshwater environments, damp soil, or emerging from host insects
Diet & Feeding
Larvae are parasites of arthropods; adults do not feed (they lack functional mouths)
Behavior Patterns
Larvae develop inside hosts like crickets or beetles, eventually manipulating the host to seek water so the worm can emerge to mate.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans, pets, and plants; they help control populations of insects like crickets and grasshoppers.
Identified on: 7/1/2026