相(xiang)比于身(shen)側兩(liang)個來(lai)說,蛀船蟲(chong)的(de)(de)身(shen)長(chang)較長(chang),一種常見(jian)于北美(mei)水域的(de)(de)蛀船蟲(chong)能長(chang)到2英尺(60厘(li)米(mi))長(chang),而它的(de)(de)殼只(zhi)有(you)半英寸(cun)(cun)(13毫(hao)米(mi))長(chang)。世界上有(you)65種多的(de)(de)船蛆(qu),長(chang)度從(cong)10英寸(cun)(cun)(25厘(li)米(mi))至3英尺(90厘(li)米(mi))多不等。蛀船蟲(chong)體(ti)表附(fu)著(zhu)的(de)(de)大量的(de)(de)短(duan)毛,這些短(duan)毛是有(you)毒的(de)(de)。
在(zai)海(hai)(hai)洋(yang)中,木(mu)(mu)(mu)船(chuan)(chuan)除(chu)了易被海(hai)(hai)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)污損和微生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)所腐蝕外(wai)(wai),危(wei)害最(zui)大的(de)是蛀(zhu)(zhu)船(chuan)(chuan)蟲(chong)(chong)。蛀(zhu)(zhu)船(chuan)(chuan)蟲(chong)(chong)是能(neng)夠使木(mu)(mu)(mu)材穿(chuan)孔的(de)海(hai)(hai)洋(yang)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu),它附著在(zai)木(mu)(mu)(mu)材上時,能(neng)在(zai)木(mu)(mu)(mu)材內挖掘圓錐(zhui)形的(de)孔道(dao)(dao)(dao),侵(qin)入木(mu)(mu)(mu)材內部,此種(zhong)孔道(dao)(dao)(dao)只有一個(ge)小孔與外(wai)(wai)界(jie)相通(tong),若外(wai)(wai)界(jie)條件不利或受(shou)其(qi)他(ta)海(hai)(hai)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)攻擊,蛀(zhu)(zhu)船(chuan)(chuan)蟲(chong)(chong)就(jiu)鉆到木(mu)(mu)(mu)材的(de)內孔道(dao)(dao)(dao)內,并分泌出石灰質,堵塞(sai)洞ISl,以抵抗其(qi)他(ta)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)的(de)攻擊。這種(zhong)蛀(zhu)(zhu)船(chuan)(chuan)蟲(chong)(chong)一旦侵(qin)入木(mu)(mu)(mu)材內部,很難驅除(chu),導致(zhi)木(mu)(mu)(mu)材穿(chuan)孔。