question about worms in water

[centrarchid]

Lol@the slug comment.
merry xmas everyone.

Some slugs can look loosely as described. My baby giant gray slugs look as such and concentrate around waterers especially when organic films are present to eat.

 

[Dreyadin]

There's several thousand species of earthworms- some are really tiny- some get several feet long. No legs, no defineable head- would narrow it down to a worm- but that's about it. Hatchlings can be really light and not get pigment until they are a little older. Pot worms/ grindal worms/ white worms- a tiny species of earthworm. If you look close- they also will have a clitellum (the band around their body- they develop that when they are mature enough to breed. It actually rolls off of them and becomes the egg case and they regenrate a new clitellum.)

If it has legs, hairs, a head, etc. that rules it out for being a worm.. bugguide.net is a good place to get an ID if you can take a good picture of it.

DE doesn't get rid earthworms. I used it in my garden and had tons (they just avoid it- or if it gets mixed with the soil it is less effective and doesn't seem to phase them.) Dry it will deter slugs a bit, but wet- they'll crawl right over it. It will dessicate quite a few bugs indiscriminately from aphids to ladybug larva when it is sprinkled on them- or if they go through it. Some swear by it- but it's anecdotal (and only 1 old study in goats where it showed it reduced- not eliminated- worm load.) It does do a nice job helping to make the hiding places of some mites hostile to them. Just had to put it out there because it isn't a cure all. It may be a helpful deterant- but still is a good idea to have at least a fecal float done every now and again.

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!!

 

[centrarchid]

There's several thousand species of earthworms- some are really tiny- some get several feet long. No legs, no defineable head- would narrow it down to a worm- but that's about it. Hatchlings can be really light and not get pigment until they are a little older. Pot worms/ grindal worms/ white worms- a tiny species of earthworm. If you look close- they also will have a clitellum (the band around their body- they develop that when they are mature enough to breed. It actually rolls off of them and becomes the egg case and they regenrate a new clitellum.)

If it has legs, hairs, a head, etc. that rules it out for being a worm.. bugguide.net is a good place to get an ID if you can take a good picture of it.

DE doesn't get rid earthworms. I used it in my garden and had tons (they just avoid it- or if it gets mixed with the soil it is less effective and doesn't seem to phase them.) Dry it will deter slugs a bit, but wet- they'll crawl right over it. It will dessicate quite a few bugs indiscriminately from aphids to ladybug larva when it is sprinkled on them- or if they go through it. Some swear by it- but it's anecdotal (and only 1 old study in goats where it showed it reduced- not eliminated- worm load.) It does do a nice job helping to make the hiding places of some mites hostile to them. Just had to put it out there because it isn't a cure all. It may be a helpful deterant- but still is a good idea to have at least a fecal float done every now and again.

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!!

Which of the worms and if a slug actually pose a risk to birds? If no risk, then do you need to kill them?

 

[Dimetrex]

Your description could be many types of animals in several phyla. Could we have some pictures, please?