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Entomology (Study of Bugs)/Very Small Earthworm in the bathroom?
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Question
Ed,
While cleaning my toilet I noticed a very thin red - brown worm of about 3" on the floor by the toilet brush. This is an area which has both water damage to the dry walling and constant water from showers. I picked it up with the toilet brush and dumped it into the toilet. To my horror it writhed around in the toilet ALIVE! I am hoping it's just an earthworm but there's an underabundance of worm info available. I am so grossed out that this is in my home with my kids! Also have indoor cat and dog. Cat likelt has a small amount of fleas as usual in winter. Hoping this isn't some sort of nasty parasite....OH we're SO creeped out!
Dear Corrine - If the worm is extremely thin, it may be a mermithid nematode, which is a parasite of insects and is entirely harmless to humans. They sometimes are called 'horsehair worms' because of their overall appearance - see http://kaweahoaks.com/html/horsehair_worm01.jpg for an image.
Hope this helps,
Saugy
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Answers by Expert:
Ed Saugstad
Expertise
Will accept most questions in general entomology, including those related to medical entomology, taxonomy, ecology, arthropod surveillance, and pest management. If you are requesting a 'mystery bug' identification, PLEASE either attach an image to your question, or post an image on a web page (such as Flickr) so that I can look at it, as verbal descriptions frequently are insufficient for a definitive identification.
Experience
21 years in the U.S. Army as a medical entomologist; duties varied from surveillance of pest populations (including mosquitoes, cockroaches, ticks, and stored products pests) to conducting research on mosquito-virus ecological relationships and mosquito faunal studies. Ten years as a civilian analyst for the Department of Defense, primarily on distribution of vector-borne diseases worldwide. Limited experience on surveillance of agricultural insects in North Dakota and Indiana.
Organizations
Entomological Society of America, West Virginia Entomological Society, Society for Vector Ecology, National Speleological Society, West Virginia Association for Cave Studies.
Publications
American Journal of Public Health, Contributions of the American Entomological Institute, Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology, Journal of Economic Entomology, Mosquito News, and Mosquito Systematics.
Education/Credentials
B.S. in entomology from North Dakota State University in 1963, M.S. in entomology from Purdue University in 1967.
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