There are a number of attention-grabbing varieties of bugs that may be present in many various locations all over the world. A few of these bugs have a really distinctive look, and one of the hanging options about them is that they seem like a strand of hair! Listed below are 11 various kinds of bugs that match this description:
1. Earthworms
An earthworm is a kind of worm that lives within the soil. They’re essential for the well being of the soil, as they assist to interrupt down natural matter and vitamins. They arrive in a wide range of colours, however most are a reddish-brown coloration.
Attributable to their form, dimension, and even thinness, earthworms can resemble human hair. Typically, earthworms get to be about 10 inches lengthy, however can develop as much as 14 inches in size. They don’t seem to be thought of a big invertebrate, however they’re nonetheless sizable sufficient to be simply seen.
Earthworms normally dwell within the soil. They’re essential for the well being of the soil, as they assist to interrupt down natural matter and vitamins. They eat a wide range of issues, together with decaying natural matter, leaves, and different vegetation.
In addition they eat soil, which is why they’re so essential for the well being of the soil. By consuming the soil, they assist to combine it up and make it extra fertile.
Frequent earthworm behaviors embody:
- Developing and sustaining burrows
- Shifting about searching for meals
- Participating in copy
Earthworms sleep at evening. Through the day, they’re energetic and shifting round searching for meals. At evening, they retreat into their burrows to relaxation.
They often sleep from nightfall till daybreak. Earthworms usually are not thought of to be nomadic, as they don’t sometimes transfer round loads searching for meals. They’re extra territorial, that means that they keep in the identical basic space and defend their territory from different worms.
2. Silverfish
Silverfish are small, wingless bugs that get their identify from their silvery coloration. They’re widespread family pests, as they like to eat paper and materials. They’re additionally drawn to starchy meals, comparable to cereal and flour.
Silverfish are nocturnal creatures, that means that they’re most energetic at evening. Through the day, they conceal in darkish, moist areas, comparable to underneath sinks and in closets. Silverfish are very quick runners and may transfer rapidly after they really feel threatened.
They’re additionally good jumpers and may leap a number of inches into the air. Silverfish have a really distinctive look, as they seem like a cross between a fish and an insect. They’re lengthy and slender, and their our bodies are lined in tiny scales.
Their eyes are positioned on the edges of their heads, they usually have two lengthy antennae. Whereas silverfish usually are not dangerous to people, they’ll trigger injury to property. They’re particularly keen on consuming paper and materials, which may destroy books, clothes, and different gadgets.
In case you have a silverfish downside in your house, it’s best to contact a pest management skilled to do away with them.
3. Millipedes
Millipedes are lengthy, segmented creatures that resemble worms. They’ve two pairs of legs on every physique section, and may have anyplace from 40 to 400 legs! Most millipedes are brown or black in coloration, however some might be brightly coloured.
Every of their legs appears to be like like a tiny strand of human hair. Millipedes are largely scavengers, that means that they eat useless and decaying vegetation and animals. Nonetheless, some millipedes are carnivorous and can eat small bugs, comparable to springtails.
Millipedes dwell in a wide range of habitats, together with forests, deserts, and even gardens. They’re normally discovered on the bottom, beneath rocks and logs. Some millipede species are recognized to climb timber and buildings searching for meals.
Millipedes usually are not dangerous to people, however is usually a nuisance in the event that they invade your property. They often solely come inside houses by chance, via cracks and openings within the basis. As soon as they’re inside, they are going to conceal in darkish, moist areas, comparable to basements and crawl areas.
In case you have a millipede downside in your house, one of the simplest ways to do away with them is to hoover them up. You may also seal any cracks and openings in your basis to stop them from coming inside.
4. Centipedes
Like millipedes, centipedes are lengthy, segmented creatures which have a number of legs. Nonetheless, centipedes solely have one pair of legs on every physique section. Most centipedes are brown or black in coloration, however some might be brightly coloured.
They vary in dimension from lower than 1 inch to six inches lengthy. Centipedes are predators, that means that they hunt and kill different small animals for meals. They’re significantly keen on consuming bugs, comparable to spiders, ants, and flies.
Centipedes dwell in a wide range of habitats, together with forests, deserts, and even gardens. They’re normally discovered on the bottom, beneath rocks and logs. Some centipede species are recognized to climb timber and buildings searching for meals.
Centipedes might be harmful to people, as they’ll chunk with their venomous fangs. Whereas most centipede bites usually are not deadly, they’ll nonetheless trigger ache and swelling.
5. Horsehair Worms
Horsehair worms are parasitic worms that sometimes infect bugs, comparable to crickets and grasshoppers. The grownup worm lives within the gut of the host insect, and the larvae develop in standing water. The identify “horsehair worm” comes from their lengthy, skinny look which may resemble a strand of horsehair.
They will vary in dimension from a couple of inches to a number of ft lengthy. Horsehair worms are normally white or brown in coloration. Horsehair worms eat the inner organs of their host bugs.
This will trigger the host insect to behave oddly, because the worm alters its habits. For instance, crickets contaminated with horsehair worms have been recognized to leap into water, the place they drown. Whereas horsehair worms usually are not dangerous to people, they could be a nuisance in the event that they infect your pets.
Should you assume your pet has been contaminated with a horsehair worm, it’s best to take them to the vet for remedy.
6. Firebrats
Firebrats are small, winged bugs that resemble silverfish. They’re darkish grey or black in coloration, and have lengthy, slender our bodies. Firebrats are normally about 1/2 inch to 1 inch lengthy.
Their lengthy, whispy antannea can seem like hairs. As their identify suggests, firebrats are sometimes discovered close to sources of warmth, comparable to ovens, furnaces, and fireplaces. They feed on paper, cardboard, and different supplies which might be excessive in cellulose.
They reproduce by laying small eggs, which hatch into larvae. The larvae are white and worm-like, and undergo a number of molts earlier than reaching maturity. Their nesting grounds are sometimes in darkish, heat locations, comparable to attics and crawl areas.
Firebrats is usually a nuisance in the event that they invade your property. They will trigger injury to paper merchandise and different supplies that they feed on. In case you have a firebrat downside, one of the simplest ways to do away with them is to take away their meals sources and seal any cracks and openings in your house.
Firebrats usually are not dangerous to folks, however might be annoying when they’re in your home. They often solely come inside houses accidentlly. They normally discover their method via tunnels, cracks, and basis.
They’re drawn to heat areas, so be looking out in your kitchen, close to radiators, or close to your furnace.
7. Stick bugs
Stick bugs, also called strolling sticks, are lengthy, skinny bugs that carefully resemble sticks or twigs. This slender look may make the smaller ones seem like human or horse hair. They’re brown or inexperienced in coloration, and may vary in dimension from 1/2 inch to 18 inches lengthy.
Some stick bug species may even change coloration to match their environment. Stick bugs are glorious camouflagers, as they’ll mix in with their setting very nicely. This makes them troublesome for predators to identify.
When stick bugs really feel threatened, they are going to typically play useless or drop to the bottom to keep away from being eaten. Stick bugs feed on leaves, and are present in gardens, forests, and different inexperienced areas. They lay their eggs on vegetation, and the nymphs (child stick bugs) seem like miniature variations of the adults.
Stick bugs can not trigger hurt to people as a result of they don’t chunk or sting. Nonetheless, their lengthy legs and sharp spines can prick your pores and skin if you happen to deal with them carelessly. Should you discover a stick bug in your house, the perfect factor to do is to softly catch it and launch it outdoors.
8. Eelworms
Now, eel worms usually are not really worms, however they’re tiny parasitic creatures that resemble worms. They’re white or clear in coloration, and may vary in dimension from 1/16 inch to 1/8 inch lengthy. Eelworms are sometimes present in damp soil or water.
Eelworms feed on plant roots, and may trigger injury to crops and gardens. They reproduce by laying eggs within the soil, which hatch into larvae. The larvae then burrow into the roots of vegetation to feed.
Eelworms usually are not dangerous to people, however is usually a nuisance in the event that they infest your backyard. In case you have an eelworm downside, one of the simplest ways to do away with them is to take away their meals supply (vegetation) and deal with the soil with an insecticide. To stop eelworms, you will need to apply good backyard hygiene.
This implies eradicating useless vegetation and particles out of your backyard, and holding the world freed from standing water.
9. Head lice
Now for the obvious one. Head lice are small, wingless bugs that dwell in human hair. They’re grey or brown in coloration, and in regards to the dimension of a sesame seed.
Head lice are parasites, and feed on human blood. Head lice reproduce by laying eggs (known as nits) in human hair. The nits hatch into nymphs, which shed their pores and skin a number of instances earlier than reaching maturity.
An grownup head louse can dwell for about 30 days on a human head. Head lice usually are not usually dangerous to people, however they’re a nuisance as a result of they trigger itching and irritation. Nonetheless, if the lice stay untreated, problems comparable to secondary infections can happen.
To stop head lice, you will need to apply good hygiene and keep away from sharing private gadgets comparable to hats, brushes, and towels with others. Should you discover head lice on your self or your little one, there are a lot of over-the-counter therapies obtainable to do away with them. In case you have head lice, one of the simplest ways to do away with them is to make use of a particular shampoo or lotion that’s designed to kill lice.
These merchandise can be found over-the-counter at your native pharmacy. You’ll need to observe the directions on the bundle rigorously to ensure that all the lice and nits are eliminated out of your hair.
10. Physique lice
Physique lice are fairly much like head lice in that they’re small, wingless bugs that feed on human blood. Nonetheless, physique lice dwell in clothes slightly than hair. They’re grey or brown in coloration, and in regards to the dimension of a sesame seed.
Physique lice reproduce by laying eggs (additionally known as nits) in clothes. The nits hatch into nymphs, which mature into grownup lice. Physique lice may cause intense itching, in addition to sores and infections from scratching.
Should you assume you will have physique lice, it’s essential to scrub your entire clothes in scorching water and deal with your pores and skin with a lice-killing lotion or shampoo. You might also have to deal with your bedding and furnishings.
11. Demodex mites
Demodex mites are tiny, parasitic bugs that dwell in hair follicles. They’re clear or white in coloration and about 0.3mm lengthy. Whereas most individuals have demodex mites on their pores and skin, they normally don’t trigger any issues.
They feed on useless pores and skin cells and sebum (an oily substance produced by the pores and skin). In some instances, nevertheless, demodex mites can multiply to such an extent that they trigger issues. This will result in a situation known as demodicosis, which is characterised by pink, itchy, and infected pores and skin.
Demodicosis is extra widespread in canines, however it may possibly additionally have an effect on people. To stop this, you will need to apply good hygiene and keep away from sharing private gadgets comparable to hats, brushes, and towels with others. Should you discover that you simply or your pets are affected by demodicosis, it’s essential to see a health care provider or veterinarian.
Remedy normally includes medicated shampoos and lotions.
12. Ear mites
Ear mites are tiny parasites that dwell within the ear canals of animals, together with cats, canines, rabbits, and ferrets. They’re white or grey in coloration and about 0.5mm lengthy. Whereas ear mites can infest any animal with ears, they’re most typical in cats.
Ear mites feed on the wax and oil within the ear canal, which may result in irritation, redness, and itching. In extreme instances, ear mites may cause a bacterial or fungal an infection. To stop ear mite an infection, you will need to apply good hygiene and keep away from sharing private hygiene gadgets such with others.
Should you assume your pet has ear mites, it’s essential to take them to the vet for remedy. Generally, ear mites might be handled with a topical remedy or ear drops.
13. Root-Knot Nematodes
These pests are literally parasitic nematodes that invade plant roots, inflicting knots or galls to type. They’re usually reddish-brown or yellow in coloration and about 1mm lengthy. Root-knot nematodes are present in all temperate areas of the world.
Whereas they’ll infest any plant, they’re mostly discovered on greens comparable to tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, and cabbage. Root-knot nematodes feed on the roots of vegetation, which may trigger the plant to wilt, yellow, and ultimately die. To stop root-knot nematode infestation, you will need to apply crop rotation and keep away from planting inclined crops in infested soil.
Should you discover that your vegetation are infested, you could have to deal with the soil with a nematicide.
14. Hookworm
Hookworms are parasitic worms that dwell within the intestines of animals, together with people. They’re about 2-5mm lengthy and have hooks on their mouths, which they use to connect to the liner of the gut. Hookworms are present in all temperate areas of the world.
Their lengthy, stringy look resembles hair. Whereas hookworms can infest any animal with a digestive system, they’re most typical in canines and cats. Hookworms feed on blood, which may result in anemia (low pink blood cell rely).
In extreme instances, hookworms might be deadly. Hookworms normally seem in an animal’s digestive system via contaminated soil. To stop an infection, you will need to apply good hygiene and keep away from strolling barefoot in areas the place hookworms could also be current.
Should you assume your pet has hookworms, it’s essential to take them to the vet for remedy. Generally, hookworms might be handled with remedy.
15. Leeches
Whereas not technically a bug, leeches are a type of pest that may be an actual nuisance. Leeches are parasitic worms that feed on the blood of animals, together with people. They’re about 10-20mm lengthy and may vary in coloration from brown to black.
Leeches are present in freshwater environments everywhere in the world. Whereas leeches can infest any animal with blood, they’re mostly discovered on fish. Leeches connect themselves to the pores and skin of their host and feed on their blood.
This will result in irritation, irritation, and even an infection. To stop leech attachment, you will need to apply good hygiene and keep away from strolling barefoot in areas the place leeches could also be current.
