Colorful larva

Moved

… v belov, 2 April, 2009 - 10:18pm

Melyridae

Dan Young has identified this larva as a melyrid. These are the first larva images for the family on bugguide. [UPDATE: Maybe the first larval images identified on bugguide but Tom Murray captured pics of one months earlier.]

… Jim McClarin, 9 May, 2006 - 6:04am

Bears a little resemblance to

… Jim McClarin, 5 January, 2006 - 5:44pm

Larva, or immature webspinner?

This seems to have the same general body plan as your juvenile webspinner:

.

Maybe they don't develop the silk glands that give them that Popeye-forearm look until later.

… Chuck Entz, 29 December, 2005 - 11:01pm

Hadn't thought of that!

However, I see nothing inconsistent with various beetle larvae. This one's quite an active little guy, definitely a roving type. Seems to be able to see pretty well. I gave him a little piece of moistened dogfood and a damp paper towel scrap, but don't know if he's tried eating it. I suspect he likes his food live. He'll get plenty of little springtails to eat back in New Hampshire.

… Jim McClarin, 29 December, 2005 - 11:45pm

Larva

I may have over-reached there. Looking further online, I see that the nymphs start spinning silk as soon as they hatch. I guess if all you've got is a hammer, everything looks like a nail...

… Chuck Entz, 30 December, 2005 - 11:54am