No! Don't touch that disgusting thing!
May 25, 2006 5:33 PM Subscribe
Gross insectfilter: What are these larval-looking things my daughter and her friends found in some stagnant water on my property in the Tampa Bay area of Florida?
I've submitted it to the bugman at whatsthatbug.com, so perhaps he will shed some light sooner or later. I thought I'd tap the collective as well.
I think it's a water larva of some sort. The "stinger" may actually be a breathing tube. There appear to be some sort of leg nubs forming.
Several other pictures, in water and out can be seen by clicking the picture above.
I've submitted it to the bugman at whatsthatbug.com, so perhaps he will shed some light sooner or later. I thought I'd tap the collective as well.
I think it's a water larva of some sort. The "stinger" may actually be a breathing tube. There appear to be some sort of leg nubs forming.
Several other pictures, in water and out can be seen by clicking the picture above.
Response by poster: They are roughly an inch long, and the tail is about 3/4 the length of the body. The diameter of the body is roughly 1/8 inch.
The ones in the picture are no longer with us, but I'm sure if the scale needs to be shown, I can have them catch some more tomorrow.
posted by tomierna at 5:52 PM on May 25, 2006
The ones in the picture are no longer with us, but I'm sure if the scale needs to be shown, I can have them catch some more tomorrow.
posted by tomierna at 5:52 PM on May 25, 2006
That is most definitely a pupa (cocoon) of something. I have no idea what, but they're likely something beneficial, i.e. will eat mosquito larvae.
posted by borkingchikapa at 7:33 PM on May 25, 2006
posted by borkingchikapa at 7:33 PM on May 25, 2006
Oh, and that's definitely not a stinger. It's probably totally harmless.
posted by borkingchikapa at 7:33 PM on May 25, 2006
posted by borkingchikapa at 7:33 PM on May 25, 2006
Last one: If nobody posts with the answer, why don't you get your daughter to keep one or two in a jar filled with the water they found them in and watch them develop? Kids love stuff like that, and it'll do well to foster a sense of fascination with nature.
posted by borkingchikapa at 7:39 PM on May 25, 2006
posted by borkingchikapa at 7:39 PM on May 25, 2006
Best answer: That is so cool! I've never had the chance to see one in person, but it looks like a rat-tailed maggot. The "tail" is a snorkel! It's extensible!
posted by catdog at 7:42 PM on May 25, 2006
posted by catdog at 7:42 PM on May 25, 2006
Response by poster: Looks like catdog nailed it.
What's that bug has an entry on them as well, but I missed it, despite doing searches at their site for larva and larvae.
I'll be sure to tell the (now sleeping) girls tomorrow morning what their friends are.
posted by tomierna at 8:54 PM on May 25, 2006
What's that bug has an entry on them as well, but I missed it, despite doing searches at their site for larva and larvae.
I'll be sure to tell the (now sleeping) girls tomorrow morning what their friends are.
posted by tomierna at 8:54 PM on May 25, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Megafly at 5:43 PM on May 25, 2006