Insect Alien
- June 15, 2004
- 5 comments
I just saw something I’ve never seen before, and it’s kind of grossed me out. My sister and I were talking when this little 1/2 inch roach came crawling out by my computer desk. Now that’s gross enough, especially since it’s the first roach we’ve seen in the house in a long time. However, it gets worse.
My sister did what anyone else would… she crushed it. We both thought that was the end of that and went on doing whatever. About a minute later, I came back with a paper towel to clean up and I saw what I thought was the roach’s leg moving around. I was getting ready to really squish it when I saw the “leg” start twisting and moving around in a very un-leg-like fashion. My curious side took over and I decided to figure out what this thing was.
After another minute, a fully 3 inch long worm or parasite had made its way out of the dead roach! It was very thin with tapered ends and was a dark brown in color. I don’t know how it could’ve lived in the roach, or how the poor roach could’ve lived with it inside. It had been so cramped within the roach, that it had knots in itself (which it eventually undid).
I tried taking some pictures of it, but I forgot to turn on the macro, so all the pics are blurry. Crap!
That’s the first time I’ve ever seen a worm come out of a roach. And it was so freakin’ huge! That’s also the first time I ever felt sorry for a dead roach. Has anyone ever heard of this before? Does anyone know what that worm could’ve been?
I figured out what it was. It was a juvenile horsehair worm. The one we saw was about 3 inches or 7.5 cm long. The adults can get up to 40+ cm long and have even been found 120cm long!! That’s roughly four feet!
Brian
June 22, 2004
I had the very same experience this morning, and I was so grossed out that I had to Google for “roach parasite worm”. That’s how I found your blog.
I was getting ready for work this morning, and I heard a faint rustling sound. Further investigation turned up a small cockroach 1/2” – 3/4” trapped inside a plastic grocery bag. He was trying to climb out, but had no traction. I got a tissue and grabbed him, squeezing as I did so in order to crush him. When I opened the tissue to examine my kill, I had the very same experience you did.
I observed ( what I thought was ) a tightly coiled appendage of the roach starting to move and grow longer. At first I thought it was an antenna, but it was on the wrong end of the roach! As I carried the tissue to the bathroom, I became horrifically aware that I was actually carrying TWO items in my tissue, one of which was still very much alive.
I tossed them into the toilet and watched the worm finish stretching out into its full 4 inch length. It was very thin, dark brown in color, and with no discernable features. I couldn’t tell head from tail. It then dove and swam its way down the toilet bowl exit, immediately followed by its dead host and a gallon and a half of water.
After reading about what it was ( horsehair worm – thanks to the link on your update ), I realize I probably did it a favor by sending it on its way in water. Kinda pisses me off now, as I wish I had just killed the damned thing!
christian
May 16, 2005
I saw a roach crawl across my floor and stop. I hate bugs and got really freaked out and smashed it. It stuck to the bottom of the glass so I decided to examine it. All of a sudden what looked liked 2 tentacles started coming out and thrashing about. I was so freaked out and confused I was close to tears. Finally 2 worms made their way out! I still cant believe that those two fit in the tiny little roach. Each were about 4 inches long! I got worried about an alien invasion so I salted the mother f***ers! They dried up and stopped moving. That’s when I decided to Google it. Boy am I relieved they are harmless to humans and are not planning to take over the earth.
Chris
Roaches… that is one thing about living in the South that my wife and I do NOT miss.
I think it would have even been better though, if you could have shot video of what you saw.