Mystery Creature: Seen on Facebook Video

[kolleamm]

I saw this in a video on facebook, the little things seem to move like worms. Any ideas?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Can't see the video, but it looks similar to videos of Tubifex worm colonies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubifex

 

[Bandersnatch]

It also looks like seaweed dragged across the floor on a string.

 

[BillTre]

I could not get the video to run.
However, I've seen worms at high densities show weird behaviors not seen at lower densities.

This is really apparent with small worms, like C. elegans, that are about 1 mm long and about .1 mm (100 µm) or less wide.
You can grow and concentrate them to high densities.
They can be very active, squirming around rapidly.
They also seem to stick together, maybe by surface tension of their tiny wet surfaces in a non-liquid environment.
When they are packed side by side, they can move around as kind of banana shaped bunches of worms, which can squirm along the surface. At times they can even lift off into the air like a tentacle.
I have seen high densities of collected (almost microscopic) worms do this.

 

[Bandersnatch]

I could not get the video to run.

That's because it's not a video, but a screenshot of one. Search for the image to get the video.

 

[BillTre]

I followed links and links to links, but those videos didn't work for me (maybe I'm special!).

 

[phinds]

Looks like a mass of worms

 

[kolleamm]

This is the video link on Facebook

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2256327494655196&id=1765071897114094

 

[phinds]

This is the video link on Facebook

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2256327494655196&id=1765071897114094

Uh ... what is it that you think I just posted ?

EDIT: Ah ... I see. Yours has the facebook comments.

 

[kolleamm]

Uh ... what is it that you think I just posted ?

EDIT: Ah ... I see. Yours has the facebook comments.

Oh my bad I thought that was just the original picture :D

 

[BillTre]

Looks like a mass of worms

Now this works for me!

 

[DaveC426913]

Can't see the video, but it looks similar to videos of Tubifex worm colonies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubifex

Similar to Tubifex, but not Tubifex.

Tubifex:
- are very thin compared to their length
- are pointy at both ends and otherwise undistinguished head and tail
- move by extending and contracting - like an earthworm, only more pronounced
- are oxblood-red.

These critters seem to have a bulbous and distinctly white head, as well as being fairly thick. They also do not seem to extend/contract much as they move - more akin to caterpillars than worms.

I think they're aquatic larvae.

 

[OmCheeto]

My one and only guess is: Fungus Gnat larvae.

Yuck!

ps. According to the images I've just seen, they come in lots of different colors, including blue, from South Africa.

 

[DaveC426913]

My one and only guess is: Fungus Gnat larvae.

OK, they've got my vote.