I have what appears to be a huge maggot wiggling around in the grass in my backyard. It's about six inches long, and about as big around as a cigar. It's disgusting!! I won't touch it, but my older son isn't afraid to help me get rid of it. He thinks we should take it to some scientist or whatever, because of it's enormous size. He thinks it's an interesting specimen that should be studied.
Suggestions?? It's sooooooo disgusting!!
2007-12-01 07:56:13 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
It's been captured...yuck!!!
I'll let my son take it wherever he wants as long as he just gets it off our property!!
2007-12-01 08:16:13 · update #1
It sounds like a beetle larva or perhaps a termite queen, either way it may be a good idea to call your nearest university biology department and to bring it in to be identified/studied. A few years ago some ordinary folks found the largest terrestrial leech in their backyard in New Jersey, and scientists who were searching for new species of leeches all over the world - in the hopes of discovering new pharmaceutical compounds, were stunned to find that the species they were hoping for was only 40 miles away!
As one fellow mentioned - you might get a new species named after you or your son for your trouble. Just because it's ugly doesn't mean it couldn't be incredibly important - a cure to cancer might be hidden in that ugly little critter, just waiting for some researcher to discover it!
2007-12-01 09:05:42 · answer #1 · answered by Michael Darnell 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get your son to put it in a box with some grass and give it to a scientist to study it.
2007-12-01 16:02:07 · answer #2 · answered by *hazel* 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some kind of beetle larva? I'd just move it elsewhere in the yard and releast it. If it is plain view, the birds are likely to eat it.
2007-12-01 16:01:02 · answer #3 · answered by nicholebeth 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends what type of worm it is it is not uncommon to have army worms, inchworms or any other type of worms living in your lawn if you think it is an undiscovered, unidentified worm then yes take it in to a taxonomist to be identified. If it is undiscovered you may even be allowed to name it.
2007-12-01 16:04:30 · answer #4 · answered by dc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably not a maggot. More likely a very healthy grub or other worm.
2007-12-01 23:08:40 · answer #5 · answered by GeminiVirgo1971 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may be an endangered species. Does it smell like lilies?
Contact a local wildlife agency.
2007-12-01 16:18:11 · answer #6 · answered by eris 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
put up a photo of it!!
yeah take it to a scientist, even if it isnt an uncommon thing you can still find out what it is.
2007-12-01 16:12:22 · answer #7 · answered by St Darling ♥s Pantera 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Albino worm. Take it to be studied anyway.
2007-12-01 16:13:52 · answer #8 · answered by Allo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
COOL!! Can you post photo of the critter, I want to see it!!!
2007-12-01 15:59:53 · answer #9 · answered by progunr 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
take it to the museum
2007-12-01 16:09:04 · answer #10 · answered by irish_matt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋