Diptera pupa/larva?

JRsbugs · #1 (**permalink**) 21-12-2009, 12:36 AM

Hello,

This was on top of a Camellia leaf in a mostly shady location on the west side of the house. Two pics from 30th and 31st November, one with it upturned on 9th November. It was approx. 6mm long. After heavy rain it disappeared so I imagine it was washed to the ground but I couldn't find it.

At one end a pair of large eyes can be seen, I am at a loss to think it could be anything but dipteran.

Janet

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 21-12-2009, 08:01 AM

I agree its dipteran, not sure what family though.

JRsbugs · #3 (**permalink**) 21-12-2009, 02:11 PM

Thanks Dogg, good to have agreement.

I'm sure I read somewhere not long ago about a pupa which looked like bird droppings but can't for the life of me think what it was, of course there are other dropping look-alikes.

I would think this has to be something in Brachycera, but not certain!

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 22-12-2009, 02:51 PM

Im not sure if this is a failed puparium or a pupa starting to form, either way it does not look complete. At the right are spiracles not eyes (if this is what you mean by eyes?).

JRsbugs · #5 (**permalink**) 22-12-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Im not sure if this is a failed puparium or a pupa starting to form, either way it does not look complete. At the right are spiracles not eyes (if this is what you mean by eyes?).

I think it was in the process of forming, if you look at the first two pics you can see a change on the left side where there is a darker patch forming. The eyes I was referring to are at the right side of the first two pics

.

The last shot with it upside down shows some white specks on what would have been next to the leaf, maybe fungal spores or parasitic eggs?