Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Predatory larva from India
Posted by chitrashanker on 30-04-2011 14:14
#1
Hi
I came across this larvae feeding on Daphnia in rice fields hyderbad, India. Can you identify the larvae? I could not rear it to the adult stage succesfully. The pictures are screenshots from video. So please forgive the quality
Thank you
Chitra
Posted by chitrashanker on 30-04-2011 14:16
#2
One more photo of the peculiar tail
Posted by atylotus on 30-04-2011 14:32
#3
looks like an Ephydridae. If it was somewhere in Europe I would say Ephydra, but in India, I wouldn't know? Does it has something like small scale-like hairs on the dorsal side? And I guess this rice field is brackish?
Posted by chitrashanker on 02-05-2011 07:37
#4
I did run the aquatax and digital key to aquatic insects but got stuck with Ephydridae coz the image and description shows a lot of setae on the body which I did not find in this case. Posting a closer look of the tail
Posted by Cranefly on 09-05-2011 11:26
#5
Ephydra has prolegs with rather large black spines ventrally. Dorsal setae very short but form distinct dark spots.:)
Posted by Cranefly on 09-05-2011 11:54
#6
P.S. Ephydra is not predatoryB). Ochthera possibly?
Edited by Cranefly on 09-05-2011 11:55
Posted by chitrashanker on 11-05-2011 14:45
#7
I have video of this larvae feeding on Daphnia. Hope that accounts as predatory. But the prolegs is what I did not see clearly. The tail like extensions were visble in continuation from the body. The body was as translucent as that. Can I post a bigger size image
Edited by chitrashanker on 11-05-2011 14:49