Identify these worms

keenest · Apr 6, 2024

Hi, Can someone help me identify these worms? Are they just good old earthworms? They seemed to be quite happy and alive in the water when I extracted them from the pool pump.

A couple years ago we came home from vacation to find animal remains in our pool. We had someone identify the bones as likely a raccoon. Since then I have been worried about the very unlikely situation that we had a parasitic raccoon roundworm (baylisascaris procyonis) that apparently can cause severe issues in humans.

JoyfulNoise · Apr 6, 2024

Those are earthworms.

duraleigh · Apr 6, 2024

Have you had some heavy rains recently? In my pool, the earthworms (usually after a rain) would happily jump in the pool and drown.

They gave off an unpleasant kind of "minty" smell. Scoop them out quickly before they start to deteriorate

Maureen03 · Apr 29, 2024

keenest said:
Hi, Can someone help me identify these worms? Are they just good old earthworms? They seemed to be quite happy and alive in the water when I extracted them from the pool pump.

A couple years ago we came home from vacation to find animal remains in our pool. We had someone identify the bones as likely a raccoon. Since then I have been worried about the very unlikely situation that we had a parasitic raccoon roundworm (baylisascaris procyonis) that apparently can cause severe issues in humans.

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If you find out from another source besides TFP, post to satisfy my curiosity. To me they look like earthworms but any earthworms I’ve ever encountered has died rather quickly once in water. Thanks.

AUSpool · May 6, 2024

Good old earth worms. Lumbricus sp. or maybe Lumbricus terrestris.

Although from that second pic I think it’s Larry, Moe and that’s definitely Curly down the bottom. :laughblue:

mgtfp · May 9, 2024

At least it's not one of them:

Giant Gippsland Earthworm Photos & Images Gallery

The Giant Gippsland Earthworm (GGE) is a threatened species, unique to a small area of South and West Gippsland. The Building Capability to Manage Giant Gippsland Earthworm Habitat on farms project will help farmers undertaking revegetation projects to design plantings to protect soil moisture...

www.giantearthworm.org.au

Identify these worms

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