Aphid Midge larvae - Aphidoletes aphidimyza

Not one I recognize

but check out syrphid larvae - there are many spp. that are aphid predators.

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 14 September, 2008 - 9:43pm

Another possibility

A comment here alludes to cecidomyiid midge larvae that are orange and predaceous. Don't know if they eat aphids, or anything else about them for that matter, but that's something to look into.

… Charley Eiseman, 14 September, 2008 - 9:46pm

absolutely Cecidomyiidae

Aphidoletes aphidimyza is a very common predator of aphids and is often mistaken for Syrphidae larvae, though it is much smaller and bright orange.

… Adam J Bell, 15 September, 2008 - 9:11am

Should this be moved to genus level?

How do you know it's this species rather than one of the other three Aphidoletes spp., which are also predators of aphids?

… Charley Eiseman, 27 December, 2008 - 5:49pm

How does it avoid being

trashed by the ants?

… john and jane balaban, 15 September, 2008 - 5:52pm

...

I believe they can mimic the pheromones (smell) produced by the aphids, which the ants and aphids use to identify each other.

… Dan Leeder, 15 September, 2008 - 8:25pm

Thanks everyone

It does appear to me to be Aphidoletes aphidimyza.

… Dan Leeder, 15 September, 2008 - 12:28pm