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Photo#15735
Microdon sp., family Syrphidae - Microdon

Microdon sp., family Syrphidae - Microdon
Salem, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA
April 4, 2005
Size: 9 mm
I've found two of these inside rotting logs. They move on a moist, sticky foot like snail, but more slowly, and have a feelered or tentacled extension that sometimes extends out from under the odd macrame-like carapace. Note the "turret" at rear of carapace. Carapace feels tough but not hard.

The one pictured went into stasis in mid-March, and it hatched into a deformed wingless adult

Images of this individual: tag all
Microdon sp., family Syrphidae - Microdon Microdon sp., family Syrphidae - Microdon Microdon sp., family Syrphidae - Microdon

Wow
That's so cool (and weird).
I've never seen one before ('cept in photos). Well, there are plenty of carpenter ants back home, maybe I'll get lucky one day. XD

earlier submissions
The larval images submitted earlier have higher domes

Larvae of Syrphid fly
Hello Jim,
It might surprise you, but these fellows are larvae of a syrphid fly!
So, family Syrphidae, subfamily Microdontinae, genus Microdon!
The genus is widespread, with 29 species in the USA. The larvae are associated with ants!
Greetings,
Gerard Pennards

 
Thanks so much for solving th
Thanks so much for solving this mystery Gerard! The larva went into stasis a few weeks ago. I'm hoping it has pupated rather than died and that something wil *fly* out of it.

 
Thank You! :-))
Thank you for the nice pictures!
To complete it, I also found a link with other pictures of your creatures: http://www.olympus.net/personal/hart/homehtml/syrphid.html
Greetings,
Gerard Pennards

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