No drawings or photos exist of Dziewiątka, this illustration is just here for illustration purposes.
The Dziewiątka Worm ("dziewiątka" meaning "nine" in Polish) is a highly poisonous worm that lives in the Mazowsze region of Poland. It was described in the 19th century by Oskar Kolberg in "Mazowsze, tom VII".
Description[]
It is described as a dark, finger-sized worm with large pincers. Its body is segmented into nine parts and on each segement there is an eye-shaped spot. In Kleszczówki near Suwałki, Dziewiątka Worms allegedly live in large swarms in tall grass.
The Dziewiątka Worm acquired its name because, if someone is bitten by it, they die nine days later. After someone is bitten, the bite mark develops into a large, pea-sized pimple. It is reported that the pain is intolerable. Insomnia, loss of appetite, and nausea occur, followed by death on the ninth day after being bitten.
Explanation[]
The Dziewiątka Worm could be the result of superstition; it was most likely an ordinary pupa, larva or worm. The deaths may have been brought on by a pathogen, which the villagers attributed to the larvae. Alternatively, it may be a venomous species of centipede, whose bites can cause death in rare cases.
Trivia[]
- Dziewiątka Worm was featured in the critically acclaimed Polish picture book "Bestariusz Słowiański" (The Slavic Bestiary), detailing various monsters of Slavic folklore.