Southern Lugworm

Lugworm Egg Casings

This egg mass comes from a Lugworm. In the Caribbean, it is also called a Lugworm Egg Balloon or a Jellied Egg Mass.

Adult Lugworms live in burrows deep in the sand. When they are ready to reproduce, the female makes a clear, jelly-like tube or sausage shape. This jelly holds thousands of tiny eggs.

The egg mass is often held in place by a thin, tough thread. This thread reaches down into the sand and anchors the egg mass near the burrow, so it does not drift away.

These egg masses are often seen at dusk. Many invertebrates release eggs and sperm in low light, sometimes linked to moon cycles. This timing may help lower the chance that predators find and eat the eggs.