[malcolmc (OP)]

Does anyone know what this worm-like creature is?

I saw it in my garden (Gloucestershire, England) one rainy morning. It was at the top of a shrub, and one end was waving round quite quickly, as if it was searching for something. It was about 0.5 mm in diameter, it was difficult to give a length as it was wound round leaves, but I would think around 100mm (4 inches).

This picture is rather poor, but gives some idea of the creature. The thickening at the end is blurring of the picture as it as it was waving so fast, the creature was the same width for the whole of its length, except for some tapering at the end. The leaves in the picture are about 2cm (3/4 inch) in length.

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[ukmicky]

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[DoctorBeaver]

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[rosalind dna]

Are the leaves sticky to the touch, like honey?? (Honey fungus)

[LeeE]

Hmm... that pic rings a faint bell from when I was very young - I think I may have seen them as a child.

Best hit I've found so far are Horesehair worms, but they're usually found in water.  However, they do spend one of their development phases in non-aquatic insects, so it's just possible that one could end up out of water.

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

[Karen W.]

Hmm... that pic rings a faint bell from when I was very young - I think I may have seen them as a child.

Best hit I've found so far are Horesehair worms, but they're usually found in water.  However, they do spend one of their development phases in non-aquatic insects, so it's just possible that one could end up out of water.

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

Lee I thought your picture was great comparison.. LOL But I thought that worm was on the side of the guys face! LOL.. side shot of nose lip but his ear area had to many extra folds.. LOL Then I re-examined and saw it was his or her hand! LOL.. Sorry but I agree that is very close..likeness if not on the money!

[LeeE]

Actually, I don't think it can be a Horsehair worm.  Although they do spend  their final pre-adult stage in a non-aquatic insect, the creature in the photo looks like a relatively old adult, which couldn't have developed out of water.

[malcolmc (OP)]

Thanks for the replies. After posting my original question I did some research on the wab, and came up with hair-worms, but like LeeE decided that was unlikely as all the information I found said they were aquatic. Any further suggestions welcome, if i get any information elsewhere I will post here.

[LeeE]

Please do - it'll be interesting to identify the little beastie.

[neilep]

Is your Garden underwater ?  []

[LeeE]

Octopus's garden?