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Ponds & Aquatic Plants

Weird worm I.D. help ... pic

16 years ago

Does anyone know what this worm is? I find them at or right above water level, I thought it might be leeches but I don't think so now. I think it's mostly in the evening/night that I see them.

Sorry about the pics, it's really hard to take pics of small things. This one is the biggest I've seen so far & it's barely an inch long, the others are smaller.

Hopefully you can get enough from the pics to help.

{{gwi:231452}}

{{gwi:231453}}

Thanks.

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Comments (12)

sleeplessinftwayne
16 years ago
Gaaaah!! I don't know what it is but I sure don't want them around here. I suspect it is some mutation of a pill bug that is seen only in your part of the country. Well, maybe it's just from your part of the country. Good luck in finding an answer. Sandy
bulldinkie
16 years ago
I looked in fish book.Do they like put thier back end up ?Could be tiger larvae,Its not leech,theyre slimmy.It couldalso be a larvae from dragon fly all not good.look these up also a Planara,flat worm.
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txgdnr
16 years ago
I don't know what it is called but I have seen those in my compost pile. It's a maggot of some form??? YUCKY!!
Dianne
buyorsell888
16 years ago
It is not a leech. Don't know what it is. I would not worry about it.
larryl
16 years ago
Its not a dragonfly larvae or planeria worm. Otherwise I have no clue.
comettose
16 years ago
Cut one open and see what is inside. Also - post the photo on the animal and insect forum on GW and you might get an ID there. The outer casing looks like it is semi-hard.
pikecoe
16 years ago
I remember seeing worms that looked like that best I can remember when I was a little girl. I'm now 64, but I'm not going to tell where I saw them on this forum. Glenda
missa7
Original Author
16 years ago
Yes, the outer skin is kinda hard ... they can be squished, though.

Glenda, could you e-mail (missatim@hotmail.com) then, I'd really like to have an idea of what they are.

I've searched but I'll try some more ... maybe try searching different kinds of maggots.

Thanks.
pikecoe
16 years ago
I did email missa. If anyone is interested research "blow fly maggots or pupae" and see if you agree. Glenda
missa7
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you.

I saw a couple in the water ... at the edge, mostly on algae but another was on a sweet potato vine leaf that has found it's way into the water's edge.
So I guess they're at least semi-aquatic.

I did post at the insect forum as well.
Thanks.
missa7
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you, Glenda .... you've been very helpful, I appreciate it.
missa7
Original Author
16 years ago
Everything I read says they're associated with decaying flesh ... why then would it seem they're eating algae (& other plant material)?

There's nothing dead in or around my pond. Why would they even be in my pond?

They sure do look like the pictures of blowfly hairy maggots.

Just thinking out loud, thanks for all the help.

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