What is coming out of my mealworm?

[MintyWood826]

Anyone know what that is?
(Not the hair, obviously)

 

[DixonCyder]

Parasite for sure. My mealworms become beetles if they don't get eaten.

 

[The Seraph]

Anyone know what that is?
(Not the hair, obviously)

View attachment 300281

Looks like either fecal matter (which I seriously doubt) or a parasite.

 

[Dry Desert]

Anyone know what that is?
(Not the hair, obviously)

View attachment 300281

Definitely a parasite.

 

[Dry Desert]

Anyone know what that is?
(Not the hair, obviously)

View attachment 300281

Definitely a parasite.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

Parasite and what looks to be pubic hair Haha

 

[ccTroi]

is that thing moving when you saw it?

 

[MintyWood826]

is that thing moving when you saw it?

No.

 

[BuzzSwole]

It’s probably transferred by the other mealworms eating it. Though it is strange to see a parasite come from a creature that requires so little moisture.

 

[StampFan]

I find this thread interesting:

https://bugguide.net/node/view/172223

 

[MintyWood826]

Perhaps I should mention that the first time I saw it, the mealworm was still alive. I was distracted at that moment and didn't take it out right away. When I did take it out a day or two later with a cage spot-cleaning, it was dead. Of course, I take out dead ones every spot-clean, so the death wasn't very significant. As far as I could tell, the maybe-parasite didn't move or come out farther in that time.

 

[schmiggle]

I find this thread interesting:

https://bugguide.net/node/view/172223

Hmmm, the gut was my guess as well.

It doesn't really look like a parasite to me, it looks a lot like dying mealworm. You would expect a parasite to be thrashing and trying to get out. I think it's the wrong shape for a tapeworm, and mermithids and nematomorphs don't exhibit those segments.

 

[MintyWood826]

I just noticed that the mealworms have been chewing on the plastic leaves I have in their enclosure. Is that a bad thing?

 

[MintyWood826]

I just noticed that the mealworms have been chewing on the plastic leaves I have in their enclosure. Is that a bad thing?

...no answer..I'll try again. Will it be harmful to the mealies or the inverts that feed on them (Ts and soon, a mantis) that the mealworms are eating plastic leaves?

 

[schmiggle]

...no answer..I'll try again. Will it be harmful to the mealies or the inverts that feed on them (Ts and soon, a mantis) that the mealworms are eating plastic leaves?

First off, why do you have plastic leaves in your enclosure?

Second, probably depends on the plastic.

 

[MintyWood826]

First off, why do you have plastic leaves in your enclosure?

Second, probably depends on the plastic.

I dunno but I took them out. No idea what kind of plastic they are.

 

[schmiggle]

No idea what kind of plastic they are.

Honestly, you're probably fine. Some plastics break down into harmful chemicals, but as far as I know, most of those are only harmful with long term exposure. Most plastics work well because they're fairly stable compounds.