A mixed bag for id if poss please.

the naturelover · #1 (**permalink**) 08-07-2011, 10:30 PM

Hi I found all 4 of these whilst walking through a commercial cereal crop. All were on the ears of the crop. can anyone id them for me please.

yellow orange eggs.

a lava of some description.

another lava. has the appearance of a froghopper to me.

This looks like a very young hoverfly of some sort. I am pretty shure it had just emerged and was drying off in the sun.
regards tn.

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-07-2011, 04:35 AM

1 look like ladybird eggs to me
2 7-spot Ladybird larva
3 Hoverfly pupa

Jason Green · #3 (**permalink**) 09-07-2011, 01:33 PM

Afternoon TN,

The last is actually a Calypterate fly that has been fatally-infected by a fungal species. The later stages of infection see the fly's beaviour modified by the fungus; it'll climb to a high-up point and spread it's wings, then die. The fungi carries on growing to eventually break-out of the abdomen via the joins in the tergums and then the emerging spores spread by wind-dispersion.

Take care,

Jason

the naturelover · #4 (**permalink**) 11-07-2011, 08:08 PM

Many thanks both for the info.
The hoverfly pupa I would never have guessed. As I said it looks like a froghopper pupa to me!!
The infected fly is even more fascinating. Again I thought it had just hatched and was drying off in the sun prior to flight.
As my signature says the more I study....
regards tn.