Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Unknown larva
Posted by Susan R Walter on 09-07-2006 17:52
#1
I have been out pulling up ragwort (
Senecio spp) so the horses are not poisoned, and underneath every plant there was one of these larva. I have no clue what they might be. Does anyone know it? At full stretch it is 26mm.
Edited by Susan R Walter on 09-07-2006 17:53
Posted by Susan R Walter on 09-07-2006 17:54
#2
Another view
Posted by Paul Beuk on 09-07-2006 19:05
#3
Tipuloid (leatherjacket)?
Posted by Susan R Walter on 10-07-2006 12:44
#4
Paul
I expect you are right. I realised a couple of hours after I posted it that it is probably a crane fly larva - felt a bit dim really for not realising it before. In the field I thought that it looked like a fly larva, but it was so big, and I couldn't think of what it might produce. Doh!!:@ Dug one up from under my garlic crop yesterday as well, so the little blighters are everywhere:@
Posted by Robert Nash on 10-07-2006 12:52
#5
"Larvae have a distinct head capsule, and terminal abdominal segments often have long fleshy projections (almost like tentacles). Larvae are known for no more than 2% of the species". from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crane_fly where there is a pic.
Posted by Susan R Walter on 11-07-2006 12:47
#6
Too late, if it turns out to be unknown to science:p - I chucked it into next door's front garden after photographing it.B) and I expect the one in the garlic patch has pushed off in a huff now that I have removed its food source.
Posted by Cranefly on 16-11-2008 07:42
#7
Tipulidae