spider with HUGE “parasite” (worm)
Hi. I sent an email several weeks ago (4-8 weeks) re: a spider with parasite. At the time, I was having problems with my internet service….so, I want to resend the email just in case you never received the original. Thanks for your advice/information about “my parasite problem”. July 2007-I saw what I thought was a fire ant in my basement living area (we do have problems with fire ants) because its abdomen was so large. I tried to catch the ant, but it was too fast. It jumped out of my bug catcher as quickly as I got it in. To say the least, he died. It scared me to death when he jumped out…..I thought he was going to sting me. I reacted……but anyways…….As I was doing research (to see if this large red ant was a fire ant), I noticed its intestines MOVED! After a couple of minutes, I realized that this was not the ant’s intestines…….it was a “worm” (parasite)!!! Sorry-no pictures that day! 2 weeks later, I was sitting in the floor in my living area of my basement. Low and behold, I seen a “worm” stuck to the bottom of my entertainment center with a dead ant next to it (I included pictures). I could see where the parasite had “busted” out of the ant’s abdomen. The “worm” was dead (dried up-guess it didn’t find a host in time).Attached is 2 pictures The last straw…….about 2 months ago, a huge Wolf spider ran towards my living area in my basement. I sprayed it with bug spray, and almost immediately, I saw a big “worm” bust out of the spider’s abdomen and begin to wriggle around looking for a host. I took many pictures and even a video (will try to send if I can figure out how to make smaller). 4 pictures are attached My concern is this……are we being attacked by parasites? I have 2 small children (ages 2 & 5) that both suck their thumbs. Do we have a parasite problem that needs to be dealt with? Is this common to see these parasites? Are they any harm to humans? Thanks so much for your help!!!!
Monica Lain
Nashville, Tennessee
Hi Monica,
We found a website entitled The Worm, the Spider and the Coffee Cup that discusses the Mermithid Worm as an internal parasite of spiders. Here is a quote from the site: “Mermithid worms are internal parasites whose infective larvae enter spiders directly or via ingested food. Once inside the spider, the tiny worm obtains nourishment from it’s hosts body fluids, digestive glands, gonads (’parasitic castration’) and muscles. As a consequence the spider becomes progressively more debilitated, but doesn’t actually die. This is because the spider’s vital organs usually remain intact, even though all of the abdomen, and occasionally part of the cephalothorax, may be filled with worm coils. Eventually in a scene reminiscent of the movie “Alien”, the gorged worm bursts out of the body of the debilitated spider, which finally dies after this macabre event. Before it dies, however the spider often has to perform one more task for it’s deadly parasite. In some mermithids, the final free-living stage of the worm is aquatic, so that it is advantageous for the worm if its emergence can take place near a water body – a pond, a creek or puddle. To increase this likelihood, such worms seem able to induce their hapless hosts to seek water, spiders sometimes actually walking into the water before the worm emerges. This behavior may result from thirst-induced activity as the worm consumes the spider’s body fluids. Whatever the reason, there is no doubt that the spider’s water seeking behavior helps to ensure the parasite’s survival and propagation.” We also located a technical paper online. Nothing indicates the parasites are interested in your children.
flatworm
Just when I thought I might have found something new… This critter was crawling in my carport this morning. I took the photo, then went to your website, just in case there was something there. Of course, the first two pictures under “worms” are of the same thing. Your site is awesome.
Rick
Doraville , GA
Hi Rick,
It is great you included that marker as an indication of the scale of the Arrow-Headed Flatworm.
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Posted 08 October 2007
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Tape worm or slug?
Our dog either eliminated it or found it crawling in our carport in Hilo, HI a very long (about 1 foot), very skinny (like a guitar string) slimy worm like animal. The head is flat and fan shaped. The body does not seem to be segmented and can elongate and shrink. Our dog was treated for tapeworm about a month ago, when we found a white segment on her tail; her vet confirmed it was a tapeworm by doing a fecal check. Since then we haven’t found any more segments and we thought the tapeworm problem was finished. We’ve been using Frontline monthly to control fleas, but she is an outdoor dog who runs free. Please check out these 6 pictures. Thank you.
Rick and Karen
Hi Rick and Karen,
No problem here. Your dog did not eliminate the Arrow-headed Flatworm, a Land Planaria. It is probably Bipalium kewensis, a species with a wide distribution in warm climates with moist conditions. It was originally discovered in the Kew Gardens greenhouses in London, hence the scientific name. It is a benign species.
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Posted 05 September 2007
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bug
Dear bugguy,
I love your website. Like everyone else, I need to know what the name of a bug is. It has a flat head. (I’m sure it was supposed to be like that.) It has a very long slug-like body that is about 4 inches long. I see it every once in a while underneath my dog’s water dish. I would love to keep it in my insect collection, but I don’t want to kill it. I have never seen one like it before. My other pet slug that I had a few years ago turned into a liquid! Could you please tell me what this bug is? Thank you so much,
Frances
Hi Frances,
When we originally began What’s That Bug? years ago as a column in a small publication called American Homebody, we claimed it was a good idea because everybody wants to know “What’s That Bug?” and it seems we were right. This is an Arrowhead Flatworm, a species of Planaria.
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Posted 13 March 2007
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At least 24" long Horsehair Worm???
Hi,
Found this worm in the driveway. Looking at your site, we thought maybe this is a horsehair worm but didn’t see any nearly this long. In the photo, the ruler is 12" and the worm is more than twice that length. Otherwise, matches descriptions from others: smooth, no sections, very thin, slightly stiff – not floppy like an earthworm.
Michelle & Pete
Redding, CA
Hi Michelle and Pete,
Thanks for sending us your amazing photo of an enormous Horsehair Worm, and internal parasite of the Potato Bug.
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Posted 09 December 2006
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classification help: what is this?
Hi there,
Does anyone know what the hell this is? It was spotted burrowing up from the beach in South Queensferry, just outside Edinburgh in Scotland. Coordinates 55º59′26.73″N 3º23′01.08″ W Upon closer inspection it had hundreds of small legs which expended from its body, a bit like a snails eye. It was as thick as a whiteboard marker, maybe an inch across, and maybe 12-14 inches long. The body was segmented but the segments looked to be fused together, more like a worm than a centipede. It has frills along each side and moves with a pulsating wriggling movement, which carried down the length of the body. I think the small end is the rear. Does anyone know what this thing might be?
Many Thanks
Chris
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Posted 01 May 2006
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I saw this critter in Hawaiian Paradise Park on the east side of the Big Island (Hawai’i) south of Hilo. I first saw a larger one that was gray-bodied and it had the same fan-shaped head. At first I thought it was a kind of earthworm or other kind of worm. But when I photographed this 2.5 in. one with the yellowish body and dark dorsal line, I noticed what appeared to be a slime trail. The larger gray one was about 6-7 in. long with a uniform thin body (not segmented like an earthworm), perhaps a bit thinner in aspect ratio that his one. It seemed to move faster than the typical slugs in Hawaii (Veronicella cubensis?) but perhaps it was the more animated movement of the fan-shaped head that created that illusion. The points of the head articulated like a slug’s "antennae". I didn’t want to turn it over to examine the ventral side. Might this be a juvenile form? Any idea what it is?
Les Chibana
Volcano, HI
Hi Les,
Thanks for sending this unusually colored Arrowhead Flatworm, a Planarium.
Update (04/26/2006): Arrowhead Flatworm in Maui
Aloha, I am impressed with the photo you just put up on your home page from the Big Island. We found this Arrowhead Flatworm in our outdoor shower a month ago, just after several days of rain. It was 4″ long and yellowish with black stripes down the entire length of it’s body. We had never seen one before so I contacted our local Dept. of Ag to inquire if it is considered an invasive species. Apparently the answer depends on your point of view. If you want earthworms for your garden, then the flatworm is invasive. If you have an abundance of the Giant African Snail, then you may appreciate the flatworm as it is a predator of said snail. I read on the internet that the flatworm expands to over twice it’s size after eating, but I have yet to find an earthworm to feed to it. It would not touch my composting worms. Keep up the excellent and entertaining work on your website! It is much appreciated. Aloha,
Michelle
Kihei, HI
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Posted 25 April 2006
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Parasite Worm?
I.m thinking some kind of parasitic worm. This was found in my “rain barrel” – a 55 gal plastic drum stocked with water plants fish, snails, tadpols, frogs & who knows what else. The head looks as if it may have “suckers” on the underside – wasn’t able to get a picture of the underside though. This is about 10-15 mm long when streched out. Thanks
Bnuts
My apologies – I found the Arrow-Headed Flatworm on your worms page. The worm I have must have been young – As I stated 10-15 mm. Feel free to post the picture though – I think it shows good head detail. I loveyour site. It’s been a great help with “identifying bugs”
Hi Bnuts,
Glad you identified your Arrowheaded Flatworm, a species of Planarium, before we had a chance to answer.
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Posted 02 April 2006
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Unknown critter
I am not sure what I found. After a recent rain, I found the wormlike creature on my sidewalk. It was very flexible and even tied itself into a knot and was able to untangle itself. My first thought was a centipede or millipede, but I could discern no feet or antennas on it. Nor did I see any segmentation. The diameter of it was so small, that I could not tell through my fingers what it felt like, although it seems to have a hard skin (exoskeleton). It wasn’t soft like a worm. In the picture, I believe the head is in the lower right corner, away from the penny. It wasn’t easy trying to get it in focus. I let the guy (gal?) go. Most likely I will never see another one again. (If it helps to identify it, I live in La Crescent, MN)
Thanks.
Greg Watson
Hi Greg,
Your is one of two letters that arrived the same day with images of a Horsehair Worm or Gordian Worm. The other letter is from Nebraska. We found a great site with more information.
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Posted 02 April 2006
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Something slimy for your slug page?
Hi, I found a few of these slug-like creatures while working in the yard, and the front edge ruffles as they (smell?) their way around. Thanks for an entertaining and informative website!
Jai Hari
Hello Jai,
We wouldn’t dream of posting your Arrow-Headed Flatworm on our slug page while we have a worm page to accomodate it. These is actually a Planarian, one of the Flatworms.
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Posted 14 October 2005
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Nereis..clam worm pictures
Hi,
in southeast US in the summer, during a lot of rain. They have a fan-shaped head without visible eyes. They can raise their head up,
We took these pictures of the clam worm, Nereis, this summer and thought you might like them for reference pictures for your readers.
Debby
Hi Debby,
Thanks so much for sharing your images. As this is a new species for our site, we are providing a link for more information.
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Posted 19 August 2005
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Bug??
Hey Bugman!
Not sure if this is a bug or not. Found it on a sandbar on the beach in Nova Scotia along the Northumberland Strait. It had about a gazillian legs and was about 10-12 inches long and very much alive. I’ve never seen anything like it before. Any ideas?
Evlynn McAloney
Amherst, Nova Scotia
Hi Evlynn,
We got two letters with Clam Worms, a type of Annelid Worm, in two days.
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Posted 18 August 2005
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