Worms: English Vocabulary List

a terrestrial invertebrate of the annelid family that moves through the soil and feeds on organic matter

"Earthworms eat dead leaves and improve soil quality."

"The earthworm aerates soil as it burrows which improves water infiltration and root growth for plants."

an arthropod with many pairs of legs and a pair of poisonous fangs

"Long centipede crawled."

"A long centipede crawled quickly across the bathroom floor last night suddenly."

a simple worm with a soft unsegmented body that is flat, some types of which are parasitic

"Some flatworms are parasites that live inside the bodies of other animals."

"The flatworm is a simple invertebrate that can regenerate into a complete organism from just a fragment."

any arthropod of the diplopod family with a segmented body and many pairs of legs

"Millipedes curl into a tight coil when they feel threatened."

"The millipede has two pairs of legs per body segment and curls into a tight coil when disturbed."

a parasitic flatworm that is shaped like a ribbon and lives in the intestines of mammals

"Intestinal tapeworm treated."

"The doctor treated the patient for an intestinal tapeworm infection last month successfully."

a parasitic or predatory worm of the annelid family that lives in freshwaters and drinks blood by attaching itself to its prey

"Blood sucking leech attached."

"The blood sucking leech attached itself to the swimmer's leg in the lake yesterday."

a long and small wormlike larva of a moth or butterfly that has many limbs

"The caterpillar ate a leaf before forming its chrysalis."

"The caterpillar ate constantly for two weeks before forming a chrysalis and beginning its metamorphosis into a butterfly."

a parasitic roundworm with strong hooks or plates that attaches to an animal or a human's intestines and causes an infection or disease

"The hookworm infected the dog's intestines."

"The hookworm attaches to the intestinal wall of its host and feeds on blood causing anemia."

a type of insect, the female of which emits light through bioluminescence, especially a firefly

"The glowworm produces light to attract mates on dark nights."

"The glowworm produces light through bioluminescence to attract mates and lure small prey insects."