Unknown Larvae (Diptera?)

Moved

Moved from "Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera).

… Matt Bertone, 16 February, 2013 - 9:49pm

Ceratopogonidae

This is a larva of a biting midge in Forcipomyiinae.

… Matt Bertone, 28 October, 2012 - 12:57am

Moved

Moved from Common Scorpionflies.

… Keith Bayless, 26 October, 2010 - 6:40pm

I don't think this is a panorpid

The ventral side of this larva is pointing up on our computer screens, correct?

Panorpid larvae have: true thoracic legs, abdominal prolegs on abdominal segmens 1-8, relatively long antennae, eyes consisting of 3-30 stemmata.

You say this larva has no legs or prolegs. I see one proleg on the first thoracic segment. I'm pretty sure I can't see eyes or sizable antennae. This is a non-brachyceran fly, perhaps a cylindrotomine crane fly larva.

… Keith Bayless, 26 October, 2010 - 6:38pm

Moved

Moved from Scorpionflies, Hangingflies and Allies.

… Will Chatfield-Taylor, 24 December, 2007 - 12:03pm

More like

The larva of a scorpion fly, something like family Panorpidae in the order Mecoptera!
Greetings

… Gerard Pennards, 19 November, 2007 - 4:25pm

Thank you

Thank you very much, I appreciate the fast response, i'll do some more research into it, it seems like there are little Panorpidae experts out there! This is also the first instances of this insect in our studies so it's pretty exciting! Thanks again.

… Elliott Reams, 19 November, 2007 - 4:39pm

Advice

Hi Elliott,

You may want to put a dark piece of paper below your Petri dish when you're taking pics so that the larva's characters are easier to see. I have some doubts as to whether this is a panorpid larva (see this).

… Jeff Gruber, 3 December, 2007 - 2:28pm

Yeah, I don't see more than o

Yeah, I don't see more than one pair of pro legs and the general body form of the panorpids are a little more stout, unfortunately I switched around the backing on the scope to black for the picture my camera isn't showing the contrast and the petri dishes are just to scratched up i'll try again in a bit.

Thanks for the help

… Elliott Reams, 3 December, 2007 - 3:13pm

Lighting

You also might want to play around with the lighting angle. If you're using goosenecks, try to aim the goosenecks a little more horizontally instead of straight down (or close to it). Just playing with the lighting angle can make a whole lotta difference.

The head capsule of your beast didn't scream Mecoptera to me.

… Jeff Gruber, 3 December, 2007 - 5:15pm