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AgAlerts 2002 From Griggs County
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Issue #14, September 6, 2002
NDSU, North Dakota Soybean Council and North Dakota Soybean Growers Association will host a soybean research plot tour on Tuesday, September 17, at the NDSU Carrington R/E Center beginning at 4:00pm. The tour will allow participants to view the research plots and hear discussion with NDSU agronomists and crop specialists.
Another plot tour is scheduled at NDSU research plots near Arthur on Wednesday, September 18th.
Now that cricket season is here, the presence
of horsehair worms occurs. Horsehair worms are interesting threadlike
roundworms that resemble the "hair of a horse's tail or mane".
These long, active worms may be observed during late summer or fall in streams
and ponds, but are more commonly noticed in domestic water containers such as
bird baths, swimming pools, water troughs, pet dishes, sinks, bathtubs and
toilets. Horsehair worms are no bigger around than kite string (1/25 to
1/16 inch wide and very long (4-14 inches). Amazingly, the entire
horsehair worm grew and developed as a parasite inside the body cavity of
crickets and other large insects such as grasshoppers, katydids, beetles and
cockroaches. This internal parasite of insects does not harm humans,
animals or plants.
One interesting habit of infected insects is that their
behavior changes as the horsehair worm matures. Parasitized crickets are
thirsty and go to water to drink. While there the horsehair worm emerges
from the insect's body and swims away in the water, an essential step in the
life cycle of this internal parasite. Insects infected with horsehair
worms kie as a result of the parasite.
Horsehair worms are white when they first emerge from the
host's body. They turn yellowish-tan to brownish-black after a short
period of time. The worms often squirm and twist in the water, knotting
themselves into a loose, ball-like shape, resembling the "Gordian
Knot." Another name for horsehair worm is Gordian worm.
Horsehair worms are completely harmless. They do not
infest people, livestock, pets or plants. They are beneficial because of
the small percentage of crickets that they kill. No control measures are
needed when this interesting worm is found. (This is an article
from Phil Glogoza, NDSU Extension Entomologist)
Please Contact Our Office For Additional Information
E-mail: griggs@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Go to the 2002 AgAlert Index Page