Posted by Gisela Merkel-Wallner on 11-10-2005 09:04
#1
Hello,
can somebody identify this? The picture were taken ba Christian Stiersdorfer in the NP Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest), the 12. August 2005. The larvae always crowled in the circle. I never have seen that and have no idea, what it is.
Greetings and thanks for your help
Gisela
Posted by Gisela Merkel-Wallner on 11-10-2005 09:10
#2
and this ist the whole circle of the larvae, about 1 meter in diameter.
Greetings
Gisela Merkel-Wallner
Posted by Paul Beuk on 11-10-2005 10:16
#4
They are larvae of Sciaridae. I quote from the Manual of Nearctic Diptera volume 1, p. 249:
Peculiar mass movements by some sciarid larvae have been well-documented, but the purpose of this behavior has not been investigated adequately.
It appears as if they were 'on the march' and that the end of the head of the mass met the tail and that they are now crawling in circles.
Reference: Steffan, W.A., 1981. Sciaridae. In: <i>Manual of Nearctic Diptera Volume 1</i> (J.F. McAlpine, ed.): 247-255.