mike_c, you are 100%

[XemaSab]

WRONG about the worms.

I found a brazilian of them in the birdbath today.

You owe me a beer, dude. :D

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x195018

[Kali]

1. what are they?

[XemaSab]

2. I think they're horsehair worms

Whatever they are, they're not roundworms.

[Kali]

4. I have one of those in a jar somewhere

found it in the shower (um, don't ask about our water system) The one I found seemed "stiffer" than the thing in your picture - really like a horse hair.

Either way - the climbing: :scared:

weird!

[bananas]

5. Uh-oh - a lot of sci-fi horror movies start out like this

They're alien parasites!
http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMjEyNTE0NDI2OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODcwODMzMQ@@._V1._SX270_SY400_.jpg

[depakid]

6. Whatever they are, they're disgusting looking- and you can have 'em

That said- at least they don't jump out, grab on and suck your blood!

Like terrestrial leeches.



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Gnatbobdellida libata - the "jawed leech," unnerving at first, messy- but generally harmless.

[phantom power]

7. Do. Not. Want.

[panader0]

3. If they were in the birdbath

they probably contracted avian flu and it has now morphed into worm flu. Thanks a lot XemaSab. and mike_c.

[hunter]

8. Horsehair worms!

One of the great forgotten mysteries of my childhood has been solved... I caught a long worm once, over a foot long, swimming in a pool of water in a creek, but the few adults I asked later said they'd never heard of such a thing and suggested it was the movement of the water animating a root or piece of string.

But I knew I was right!

http://www.kaweahoaks.com/html/horsehairworms.html

[mike_c]

9. yep-- if you found them in the bird-bath...

...they're most likely horsehair worms OR mermithid nematodes. That'll teach me to attempt identifications from photos, especially when distinguishing between two such similar organisms. Usually I know better.

If you'll send me some in a vial of your favorite strong beverage I'll tell you for sure-- it only takes a minute under the 'scope to be certain. THAT'S what I should have said in the first place!

[mike_c]

10. one last question...

...since you found a bunch of them at once. Are you SURE you can't see any annulations, even if you look carefully? That many.... I'm wondering if they might be tubificids, instead. They are certainly active out of water.

[XemaSab]

11. What's the best way to send a spice jar through the mail?

I still have the original specimen. :D

[mike_c]

12. just make sure it's sealed tightly and padded well...

...and no worries. I think is has to go regular mail because UPS doesn't ship flammable liquids if I recall correctly.