Fried Eggs Worm
Time to catch some eggs–err—worms!
Would you be willing to catch worms if they looked like this? Today is Wild Life Wednesday and we introduce you to the wiggly fried eggs worm (Archipheretima middletoni)! It is known for its deep indigo-blue color with scattered white spots and yellow centers along its back, uncannily resembling fried eggs.
Adult fried eggs worms do not burrow in the soil. Instead, they move along the substrate or the surface of the ground, especially during periods of heavy rains. Meanwhile, the juvenile worms are often observed in the leaves of arboreal ferns and in the leaf axils of the pandan plant.
Endemic to the Philippines, fried eggs worms are only found in Aurora province within the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. Although they are not currently endangered, changes in land use and habitat destruction could threaten their populations. Conservation efforts must focus on preserving the natural habitats where this worm and other endemic species thrive, ensuring their continued survival.