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55-Metre Bootlace Worm Washes Ashore, Toxins Eyed for Insecticides

8/11/2026

38 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

A 55-metre bootlace worm (Lineus longissimus) washed ashore after a storm at St Andrews in the United Kingdom.
The species normally reaches about 15 metres long, is only 5–10 mm wide, and releases poisonous mucus when threatened—a trait first recorded in 1555.
Swedish scientists described the worm’s toxins, alpha-nemertides, in 2018, which paralyse crabs and cockroaches, affect mammals little, and could become new insecticides.

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Story summary

A 55-metre bootlace worm (Lineus longissimus) washed ashore after a storm at St Andrews in the United Kingdom.
The species normally reaches about 15 metres long, is only 5–10 mm wide, and releases poisonous mucus when threatened—a trait first recorded in 1555.
Swedish scientists described the worm’s toxins, alpha-nemertides, in 2018, which paralyse crabs and cockroaches, affect mammals little, and could become new insecticides.