Swimming worms

Dutchman · #1 (**permalink**) 28-09-2009, 10:59 PM

In my new pond I have noticed some small worm-like things swimming at a rate of knots using what can best be described as a figure-of-eight stroke. Anyone know what they are? Are they good guys or bad?

Phoebe · #2 (**permalink**) 28-09-2009, 11:09 PM

Possibly Tubifex worms

Jennie · #3 (**permalink**) 28-09-2009, 11:33 PM

Do they swim downwards when disturbed before returning to the surface of the water? If so, could be mosquito larvae.

Phoebe · #4 (**permalink**) 28-09-2009, 11:44 PM

I did think of mosi larvae but they have a wide head that clings to the surface to breathe and not very worm like but they could well be them.

Dutchman · #5 (**permalink**) 29-09-2009, 09:04 AM

They seem to swim around quite freely. Not constantly but from place to place.

Lancashire Lad · #6 (**permalink**) 29-09-2009, 04:40 PM

If they are almost transparent, they might be larvae of the Phantom Midge - Chaoborus plumicornis. If they are red, possibly bloodworms, larvae of many species of the Chironomidae midge family.

There are also many aquatic worms - Annelidae (Oligochaetes - Naididae, Tubificidae, etc.), but they generally tend to crawl around on and in the sediment, rather than free swim.

Regards,
Mike.

Dutchman · #7 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 04:30 PM

Thanks Mike. I think they must be Chironomidae - they're red and there are plenty of midges around. I also have a couple of little bronze beetles that dive about the place. Is this the sort of thing that they feed on?

Lancashire Lad · #8 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 07:14 PM

Blood worms & glass worms make good food for anything thats higher up the food chain.

They are commercially collected and sold in aquarist shops as live food for tropical fish.

Regards,
Mike.