Eucnemid larvae - Dirrhagofarsus ernae Nashua, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA January 10, 2007 Size: 6 - 18.5 mm
Sorry for the terrible image. Many of the eucnemid larvae I collected were in this position, folded in-two in their burrows. In trying to imagine why they assume this posture I wondered if anal glands might produce their digestive enzymes so that mouth and anus are best positioned together. It should be noted that the doubled-over larvae were folded near their midpoints so that head and anus were in close proximity.
Images of this individual: tag all Contributed by Jim McClarin on 11 January, 2007 - 8:35pm Last updated 22 October, 2014 - 10:43pm |