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Segmeted pencil-lead sized 12″ long
Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 10:05 AM
I have seen these at my house at least four times in the past eleven years. They have been on the driveway or walkway after a rain. I kept the first one in moist dirt in a baggy but it died.
The distal end is bifurcated with grippers. The proximal end is smooth and probing.
Laurie
N 35.50162694, W120.69228172

Horsehair Worm

Hi Laurie,
Thanks for the detailed coordinates, but we haven’t a GPS device to get a named location.  Seems like we are probably talking San Luis Obispo, California.  This is a Horsehair Worm or Gordian Worm.  It is an internal parasite that preys upon Potato Bugs and other Orthopterans.  We have also received reports in conjunction with Camel Crickets and Spiders.

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