Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Diptera (eggs, larvae, pupae)
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 Nematocera (?) larvae from buds --> Psychodidae
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| Thomas Brand |
Posted on 13-01-2012 07:21
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Member Location: Posts: 147 Joined: 12.01.12 |
Hi, we found plenty of larvae in buds of Hydrangaea in a horticultural farm. Glandorf North-West Germany, January 2012. Is it possible to identify it? Thanks in advance Thomas Thomas Brand attached the following image:  [29.39Kb] Edited by Thomas Brand on 14-01-2012 16:39 |
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| atylotus |
Posted on 13-01-2012 10:41
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 Member Location: Amsterdam, NL Posts: 1166 Joined: 29.05.09 |
A larva of Psychodidae, but I cannot tell you the genus or species name with certainty. Most likely something like Psychoda, Tinearia or perhaps Trichopsychoda. |
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| Thomas Brand |
Posted on 14-01-2012 16:39
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Member Location: Posts: 147 Joined: 12.01.12 |
Thank you for the family-ID! Thomas |
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| Gunnar M Kvifte |
Posted on 14-01-2012 20:26
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Member Location: Kassel, Germany Posts: 436 Joined: 18.08.09 |
If you rear some of the larvae I can identify adults. |
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| Thomas Brand |
Posted on 16-01-2012 07:29
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Member Location: Posts: 147 Joined: 12.01.12 |
Thank you for the offer, Gunnar, however, as we found them in a horticultural farm producing Hydrangea, I am not sure, that we can get some larvae for rearing. How should we rear the larvae? On what do they feed (probably not phytophageous)? best regards Thomas |
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| Gunnar M Kvifte |
Posted on 16-01-2012 11:15
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Member Location: Kassel, Germany Posts: 436 Joined: 18.08.09 |
I think the best shot is to bring some of the infected buds indoors, keeping them slightly moist and see whether the larvae hatch. If they are Psychoda (which they look like to me) the life cycle should be fairly short. |
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| Gunnar M Kvifte |
Posted on 16-01-2012 11:26
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Member Location: Kassel, Germany Posts: 436 Joined: 18.08.09 |
I have now read the available literature on European Psychoda larvae. The specimen in your picture has 26 dorsal plates, some of which are much more narrow than the others; leading me to conclude that it most likely belongs to Psychoda cinerea Banks, 1894 or Psychoda gemina (Eaton, 1904).
Edited by Gunnar M Kvifte on 16-01-2012 11:27 |
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| Thomas Brand |
Posted on 16-01-2012 12:20
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Member Location: Posts: 147 Joined: 12.01.12 |
Thank you very much for your effort, Gunnar! If we can get some adults, I will conatct you again. In the farm some adults were found on sticky traps, but I think those are not OK for ID. As far as we know, Psychoda is not feeding on living plants. But how can they survive in the buds? It is humid there, but hardly any organic matter (besides the fresh plant material). Any idea? kind regards Thomas Edited by Thomas Brand on 16-01-2012 12:24 |
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| Gunnar M Kvifte |
Posted on 16-01-2012 14:08
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Member Location: Kassel, Germany Posts: 436 Joined: 18.08.09 |
Many Psychoda species are very opportunistic in their ecology, it is phytophagy is not previously recorded but is not impossible. Maybe it eats algae or fungi on the bud? In any case, this is a new habitat record for Psychoda. |
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