Mystery Water Shooting Bug - Aphylla williamsoni

Moved

to guide.

… Chuck Entz, 19 March, 2007 - 7:18am

I can see it now!

Thank you for your reply. I am more a photographer than an insect expert, but love your detail. My four year old son will love the explanation. We caught the larva in a jar. My son wanted to keep it, but we let it go. We live close to a few hundred acre bird reserve and lake. I have seen so many unusual insects. This one took the cake. I couldn't figure out why it had wings, but it was living in the water. It all makes sense now. Love the site! I see it's a MUST view site with a young boy in the house. He loved the site just as much! I will tell my friends who have kids. I am excited to make this a family bug seeking project now. Again thank you.

… imjanedo, 18 March, 2007 - 9:17pm

What a great find!

If you and your son want a really neat show, catch one again and add a few mosquito larvae. Would be an 'eyes-on' lesson to "integrated pest management", and a wonderful demonstration of how important these guys are as predators even before they turn into beautiful winged adults.

… Jay Barnes, 19 March, 2007 - 1:05am

Scientific Name

Tony nailed the identification (Two-striped Forceptail), but didn't provide the scientific name, which is Aphylla williamsoni. For confirmation, see page 33 (of 66) in An Introduction to the Identification of Dragonfly Larvae (Anisoptera) of Florida by Johnny Richardson.

… Roger Rohrbeck, 18 March, 2007 - 10:32pm

great addition

Two-striped Forceptail, based on location.

… Tony-2, 18 March, 2007 - 8:59pm

Dragonfly Larva

This is a dragonfly larva. I am a northern boy, so this is a species that I have not seen, but it looks like it's from the genus, 'Stylurus', the Hanging Clubtails. The "tube" (abdominal segment 10) is far longer on this than any species I have seen.

Dragonflies have internal gills and the larvae suck water up their anuses to inhale, the opposite to exhale. They also use this function as a means of quick transportation by expelling water quickly in order to scoot forward. A simpler way to say it, is they shoot water out of their butts!

Nice photo and welcome to BugGuide! If someone else can ID it, it will be the first photo of a larva of the genus (if it is Stylurus).

Kurt Mead

… Kurt Mead, 18 March, 2007 - 7:21pm