All images on this website have been taken in Leicestershire and Rutland by NatureSpot members. We welcome new contributions - just register and use the Submit Records form to post your photos. Click on any image below to visit the species page. The RED / AMBER / GREEN dots indicate how easy it is to identify the species - see our Identification Difficulty page for more information. A coloured rating followed by an exclamation mark denotes that different ID difficulties apply to either males and females or to the larvae - see the species page for more detail.
Worms & Leeches
Nematomorpha (Hairworms)
The phylum Nematomorpha are a type of long, thin worm found in damp habitats, including marshes, water troughs, streams and ponds. They are commonly referred to as hairworms. The adults are free-living whilst the larvae are parasitoids of various arthropods. Adult worms are wire-like and move very slowly. They get their alternative name of 'Gordion' worms from the legendary gordion knot, as they often form themselves into tight knots.