10/6/2023 0 Comments Download horsehair worms in waterThere is a vent (cloaca) at the rear end of the body but there is no mouth. It does not have lateral rows of hairs (setae), but it does have bristles that aid in swimming. The outer layer often has groups of wart-like or pimple-like bumps (areoles). The body is unsegmented and is covered by a thick, two-layered cuticle. There is a blunt head and a swollen tail, but there are otherwise no distinguishing features that can be seen in the field without magnification. The body color is purplish-brown to black in most species, tan in some species. They are 1⁄ 32 ″to ⅛ ″ (1 to 3 mm) in diameter and are usually 12 ″ to 16 ″ (30 to 40 cm) long but some can grow up to 47 ″ (120 cm) in length. They do not feed, but may absorb nutrients through their body walls.Īdults are very long, hair-like worms. They are found usually in freshwater habitats, sometimes in semi-aquatic habitats, or inside terrestrial hosts usually near water. It is thought that they influence the behavior of their host, bringing them near water when the adult is ready to emerge.Īdults are free-living. They feed on and absorb nutrients from the gut of their host. Larvae are parasites of insects, mostly grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids (Orthoptera). There are about 320 (Wikipedia) or 356 (Encyclopedia of Life) species in 18 genera in 2 families worldwide, at least four species in North America north of Mexico, and at least 2 species in Minnesota. It is the only order in the class Gordioida. Gordioidea is an order of parasitic horsehair worms.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |