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Photo#608438
Predaceous larva, cerci lateral - Symphoromyia

Predaceous larva, cerci lateral - Symphoromyia
Sandia Mountains, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, USA
October 9, 2011
Size: 6.2 mm
Download high resolution image here.

Note that the posterior cerci teeth are swept rearward (to the left), preventing prey from getting stuck between the cerci. The larva does not eat on this end, obviously, so prey must be removed during or after consumption. The degree of overlap of the teeth seen here is the best indication of how wide the cerci would have to open for them to bite down on prey.

This image is from a CombineZP processed stack of 188 images with a 2.7 micron step taken with a Nikon BD 20X 0.40NA microscope objective + adapter/extension tube + Nikon D300 camera.

Images of this individual: tag all
Predaceous larva, cerci posterior - Symphoromyia Predaceous larva, dorsal - Symphoromyia Predaceous larva, lateral - Symphoromyia Predaceous larva, ventral - Symphoromyia Predaceous larva, head anterior - Symphoromyia Predaceous larva, head lateral - Symphoromyia Predaceous larva, crest lateral - Symphoromyia Predaceous larva, head dorsal - Symphoromyia Predaceous larva, cerci dorsal - Symphoromyia Predaceous larva, cerci lateral - Symphoromyia Predaceous larva, cerci ventral - Symphoromyia

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