Subject: Re: strange bug identification needed!
From: CJ <cjl114@psu.edu>
Organization:
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 98 13:09:46
Message-ID: <MOD$980618.002@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
Hi Gary,
First, yes, I did forget to say where I am, which I usually do... I'm zone
4 or 5, Central Pennsylvania, elevation about 1800ft. (on a ridge in the
Ridge and Valley physiographic region.)
Anyway, what you suggest, the horsehair worm, seems to fit the description.
It has been rather rainy here, though I haven't found them in puddles, but
on the bare, wet, garden soil. And yes, there are a lot of grasshoppers
all around my garden which is two tiers of about 4 ft. wide each.
>From your short description, I imagine that it is a harmless creature, but
to be sure, can you tell me anything else about this invertebrate? What is
the genus and species? Is it harmful to garden plants? Will it parasitize
anything other than grasshoppers and if that is the case, will it be
harmful (to the beneficial bugs, cats, dog, my roommates and me)?
Thanks so much,
Cheryl.
--
Tasha's Cheryl http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/5972
Cheryl's Tasha http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/5972/tasha.html
"Real development is not leaving things behind, as on a road, but drawing
life from them, as from a root"
G. K. Chesterton (1874-1935)
"....be glad you had the moment."
S. Shagan (b. 1927)
Gary Matson wrote in article
<MOD$980618.10528@rec.gardens.ecosystems>...
>
> I'm going to hazard a guess that might lead somewhere, but first, a
comment: it
> is impossible to know from what geographic area a post is from without
> additional information. The regional differences across this country and
world
> are truly amazing. Some mention of where a situation is, when asking a
> question, could greatly increase the likelihood of a useful reply.
>
> That said, it sounds like something we in Northern California call a
horsehair
> worm. It is in the nematode phylum, I think. In our case, the creature
lives as
> an internal parasite in grasshoppers at least some of its life cycle.
They
> often show up in puddles after late spring rains, and wave and contort
slowly.
> No head is clearly visible. Does this fit the creature you have found at
all?
>
> Gary Matson--interior northern california
>
> CJ wrote:
>
> > Hi folks,
> > I've got a question for those of you experienced in bug (or whatever)
> > identification.
> > What is this weird thing in my garden, and is it beneficial or
dangerous?
> > Description: very, very skinny, as thin as a hair: like maybe a
millimeter
> > diameter, and quite long, about 3 to 5 inches. It squiggles around and
> > both ends of it wave around in the air like it's looking for something
to
> > grab onto. For the color, the first one I saw was mostly dark - maybe
a
> > very dark green, and the ends were light colored, very light yellowish
> > greenish. Three that I saw were all light colored, and the other one I
saw
> > had a sort of stripe or line all along it.
> > Another one that I want to ask about is also long and skinny, but
nowhere
> > near as thin as the first bug. This one seems wet, like a worm, and is
> > about 3 inches long, diameter about half a centimeter, dark brown with
a
> > black line, and a sort of hammer head when it stretches out. It curls
> > around when it's picked up.
> > So, What are these things? Are they good or bad? I'm worried that
they
> > are some sort of parasitic things that are in the garden because of the
> > cats using it as a litter box. Does anyone have any advice?
> > (I definitely don't want to cause family or friends
> > any parasite problems, that is if the slugs let any of my plants
produce
> > veggies.)
> > Thanks for any input,
> > Cheryl.