Knowledgebase

What is this worm #868718

Asked May 16, 2024, 1:34 PM EDT

I found this white wormlike guy in a large puddle around my home. I’m concerned it’s a pin worm.

Anne Arundel County Maryland

Expert Response

That looks like a Gordian or Horsehair worm.
(Pinworms are not aquatic).

These aquatic worms are harmless to us.
They are parasitic to grasshoppers, crickets, spiders etc.
You can learn more about them here:
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/issues/2017/jul-aug/horsehair-worm.html#:~:text=Horsehair%20worms%20are%20found%20in,marine%20species%20have%20been%20documented.

Christine

Answered by theHome and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied May 17, 2024, 10:25 AM EDT

This work is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension grant no. 2020-41595-30123 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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