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Photo#181943
Is it even an arthropod?

Is it even an arthropod?
Houghton, Houghton County, Michigan, USA
April 20, 2008
Size: 20 mm
Found this in a creek while hunting for water bugs. On the one hand, it sometimes moved by extending and contracting, kind of like a worm. On the other hand, it sometimes crept along using what appear to be feet, and looks like it has a pair of something like uropods (if that's its tail) or antennae (if that's its head). Is this an arthropod (perhaps a larva), or is it some kind of segmented worm? I couldn't tell for sure which end was the head, it seemed willing to move either direction, although it seemed to prefer moving as if the end with the tendrils was the tail. Also, when disturbed it tended to lash back and forth vigorously.

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Is it even an arthropod? Is it even an arthropod? Is it even an arthropod?

I may be wrong
but this looks like a Tipulidae/Pediciidae larva, probably the genus Dicranota. The style of prolegs seems right to me and the last segment looks very much like that of some aquatic species of crane flies, but I could be wrong.

Yes:-)
It is definitely an arthropod, and I feel confident in concluding it is some kind of aquatic fly larva. That said, several families of flies have aquatic larvae that fit this general appearance, espcially midges (Chironomidae), and crane flies (Tipulidae). Hoping one of our Diptera experts can be more definitive. Very nice images.

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