HELP Larvae Infestation

Ben6279 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-11-2010, 07:42 AM

Well I say infestation, more like a dozen or so over the past week. Every morning and on occasion in the evening we're finding a form of larvae making their way across our kitchen floor. Have never had a problem in the past. Can anyone identify what it is, why we have them, how to get rid of them?

I used to fish and it's certainly not a typical maggot. It's body is more flat than cylindrical, it's very slow and appears to have six or seven pairs of what ever you'd call feet I guess on it's underneath.
I don't know if it's coincidental but we're also having a wasp issue at the momonet which seemed to of took residence in a venting block in the wall of our kitchen from the outside. They again are very slow / sleepy, are easy to catch and fly around the lights

You can probably guess I'm not an insect fanatic and most googling seems to bring me towards this forum but any help would be appreciated

Thanks

Ben6279 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-11-2010, 07:49 AM

Seems by chance I may have found my answer at Larva ID please and they are related to the wasps.
Can anyone suggest how to get rid?

Thanks

The Woodman · #3 (**permalink**) 08-11-2010, 08:07 AM

Hi Ben

posch had ID'd this larva as a hoverfly species that uses old wasp nests to hatch its young.

You have identified the wasp nest in your venting block (a common place) and these harmless insects - hoverflies - are living in symbiosis.

The fact that you are finding the larvae away from the wasp nest may be because they are about to pupate and are looking for a suitable habitat to do it in.

You have nothing to fear from them. To prevent this from happening next year either stop the wasps from accessing the vent by blocking it with cardboard and tape temporarily or use a proprietry wasp killer.

Ben6279 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-11-2010, 08:16 AM

So the flies we are finding around the place are not infact wasps, they are hoverflies correct? The larvae we are finding after they have pupated?

Wild-Woman · #5 (**permalink**) 08-11-2010, 08:22 AM

Hoverflies are harmless wasp 'mimics' that use nature's warning colours as a cunning disguise. The larvae will be wandering off to find somewhere to pupate. After pupation the imago or adult hoverfly will emerge- possibly in the spring.