pɹˈaɪɚ tʊ ɪts ɹˌiːdɪskˈʌvɚɹi ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd tˈɛn, ðə wˈɜːm wʌz bᵻlˈiːvd tə ɡˈɪv ˈɔf ɐ sˈɛnt sˈɪmɪlɚ tə ðæt ʌvðə lˈɪli flˈaʊɚ wɛn hˈændəld ænd ðˌɐɾɪt wʌz ˈeɪbəl tə spˈɪt ɪn sˈɛlfdᵻfˈɛns; haʊˈɛvɚ, ðə spˈɛsɪmənz kˈæptʃɚd dɪdnˌɑːt ɛɡzˈɪbɪt ðiːz kˌeɪpəbˈɪlᵻɾiz.
Prior to its rediscovery in 2010, the worm was believed to give off a scent similar to that of the lily flower when handled and that it was able to spit in self-defense; however, the specimens captured did not exhibit these capabilities.