Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#155136
failed pupation

failed pupation
Naples, Collier County, Florida, USA
November 2, 2007
Size: oval 1cm in length
I think maybe it was kept too dry. It's been 17 days and nothing yet.

Images of this individual: tag all
failed pupation ID Please - Neotibicen davisi Tibicen figurata - Neotibicen davisi Tibicen figurata - Neotibicen davisi Tibicen figurata - Neotibicen davisi

This is a cool series!
There are several parasitic flies known to attack cicadas; however, most recognized are those species attracted to the calls of the males and to my knowledge are only on/in the males. In fact, many of these parasites may be cicada specific.

In this case, we have a female davisi cicada, so I'm more inclined to think the fly maggot and puparium are likely opportunistic on a dead insect (I see this a lot on dead cicada material we pick up around town). Large insects often attract flies which will take advantage of the available soft tissue in a meaty bug (several dipteran families are known to do so).

The cicada in this series looks life-like and is perched on screen, but I have seen dead cicadas here in the lab hang on screens and branches looking life-like for days.

Moved

Moved

Moved

Actually
This one is a fly puparium and should be in Diptera rather than here.

 
What major taxon of flies
has puparia?

Moved
Moved from Tibicen figuratus.

Don't give up on it :-)
Once in their puparia flies can take varying amounts of time to eclose depending on taxon and environmental factors. It could take several more weeks. When it does eclose, hang onto the empty puparium, clean it in alcohol, and see if you can get some good images of it.

btw, I've linked all your images so the story is easier to follow as it emerges. The parasite larva shots are still in ID request even though all are linked.

 
When posting images
that you want to be linked, just click on the Add Image hypertext link below your first image. That opens a new submittal form, the image of which is automatically linked to the first one. Use this method with each new image in your series and all will be linked.

If images in the series show different species that are related by circumstance, as in the case of these photos, you can click on the Tag hypertext link below them. Thumbnail(s) of the image(s) you want to move to another destination appear at the top of the left column. They will remain there until you navigate to the classification you want to move them to, being sure to click the Images tab above. In the Images view you will see a Move Tagged Images hypertext link. Click on it and your images are moved even though they are still linked with their original series.

btw, flies do not lose their larval skins before pupating. While some fly pupae are quite ornate, others look more like darkened, hardened versions of their larval selves. Just make sure the pupa is in a lidded container so when it does emerge the fly will be trapped inside for you to photograph.

 
Thank you Jim
Thanks so muck. I was trying to figure out for quite a while how to link them all. I knew they couldn't be followed segmented like they were. Thanks. I will also keep my fingers crossed we still have some luck on it emerging.

 
Not a bot fly, but...
This new image looks like a fly "puparium," which is essentially the last larval skin (the pupa would be inside of this). So, definitely do not give up on this. Might emerge next spring, though....

 
This reminds me
of a bot fly larvae. I had an injured chimpunk I was caring for that had a lump and what I know now is called a warble (breathing hole) on its side. A few days after I was given the animal a white parasite emerged. It turned dark brown just like your pictures and burrowed into the cedar shavings I had provided. I know bot flies burrow back into the ground after emerging from their hosts (you said yours headed for the potted plant), but I don't know if bot flies would latch onto a cicada. I know they usually find hosts such as rabbits, mice, cows and humans. I hope it emerges for you so we can all find out what it is. Good Luck!

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.