Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Tipulidae larva ?

Posted by Arthropa on 15-10-2004 16:50
#1

Hello,

I've been told this larva may be some Tipulidae one ! :o :o
(I would have thought it should be some Tenebrionidae one !?)
I found it under the bark of a lying dead tree, in Chambolle-Musigny (21, France) on 28th March 2004. Size was something like 20 mm.

arthropa.free.fr/photos/ATH04-03-28-048.jpg
arthropa.free.fr/photos/ATH04-03-28-052.jpg
arthropa.free.fr/photos/ATH04-03-28-050.jpg

What do you think about it ?

Posted by Gerard Pennards on 15-10-2004 19:32
#2

Hello Benoit,
No, it is not a tipulid larva.
Most of the larval Diptera don't have a clear head like this one has!
Especially not the more 'higher' Diptera families!
This is not even a Diptera, I think this is a Lepidoptera larva, so a caterpillar! If you can check its belly to see whether it has pseudo-legs (visible on your pictures?), that will make it almost definitely a caterpillar (in that case you can only mistake it with a sawfly larva, who also has pseudo-legs)
Greetings,
Gerard

Edited by Gerard Pennards on 15-10-2004 19:33

Posted by Arthropa on 15-10-2004 21:21
#3

Thanks !
I will seek some help from lepidopterists or hymenopterists, and I'll let you know whenever I get some definite answer !
Best regards

Posted by Josef Buecker on 29-02-2008 19:37
#4

Hello Benoit (Martha?)

it is somewht late now. I found this post by fortune just now!

To my knowledge, that larvae is almost clearly a lepidoptera! That estimation is since there are 4 pairs of pseudolegs as can be seen in the second picture!

I am only a layman. But, my guess is Eurrhypara hortulata L.

Perhaps you ask the specialists in the Lepiforum.

Best wishes,

Josef