Moved from Net-winged Beetles.

these are net-winged beetle larvae....Calopteron reticulatum (Lycidae)....notice how fat and plump they are...that means they were feeding regularly where you found them....we don't know exactly what, but candidates are fungus and detritus. The congregation occurs because, often enough, prime oviposition sites are located by several females, and they dump their eggs in about the same place....sometimes scores of females will find the same site and spawn hundreds of larvae in the same place. If you damage the fragile habitat- damp, shaded, lots of anaerobiasis- they will attempt to relocate if possible, or they will perish. They are very vulnerable to exposure. Even trying to return the object they were using as protection back to its original position isn't good enough because bad fungi can sweep in from the atmosphere and wipe them out....also it's an ergonomic issue too, as they drain energy reserves trying to save themselves from exposure..



Trick is to figure out how to raise them

Moved from Beetles.

Moved from ID Request.