According to Greek legend, King Gordius of Phrygia tied a complicated knot. Since they are usually contorted into “knots”, the name Gordian worm was used by some. Cabbagehair worm is used in some localities because they can be found in the water droplets that collect in cabbage leaves. The name “horsehair worm” refers to the old belief that they came from horse hairs that fell into water and came to life. This has led to a variety of stories about their origin. Tangled masses of these worms can be found In the spring. The horsehair worms are not a problem but contamination from other sources can be. Check for cracks or openings that can be screened or sealed. Their presence indicates that a cricket or some other host insects got in the container and died, releasing the worm.
These long, slender creatures are harmless so there is no need for control. When mature, it leaves the host insect to start the process again. There, it digests and absorbs the surrounding tissue. If the cyst is eaten by a suitable insect, the protective covering dissolves and the released larva bores through the gut wall and into the body cavity of the host. Within 24 hours of hatching, the worm is thought to form a protective covering or cyst. The life of the microscopic larvae is not completely understood. Depending on water temperature, the eggs hatch in 2 weeks to 3 months. Life CycleĪdults mate in water and females lay long gelatinous strings of eggs. They are not parasites of humans, livestock, or pets and pose no public health threat. When mature, they leave the host to lay eggs. Horsehair worms develop as parasites in the bodies of grasshoppers, crickets, cockroaches, and some beetles. These harmless, curious creatures writhe slowly, contorting their hair-like bodies into intricate knots. They are found in water or wet areas, such as in or alongside streams or puddles but they can occur in cisterns, livestock watering troughs or most open outdoor container with water. They are similar to nematodes but much longer (4 inches or longer) and very thin (1/80 to 1/10 inch diameter). Horsehair worms, also known as Gordian worms, belong to the group Nematomorpha. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture ENTFACT-613: Horsehair Worms | Download PDF by Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist
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