Tadpoles in Somerset in December???

Ken P · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2011, 11:06 AM

I have in my garden three "ponds" consisting of plastic buckets sunk in the ground filled with water and a couple of rocks.
There have been a couple (that I have seen) of frogs making use of these throughout the year, I tend to just leave them alone to get on with their froggy lives.
I noticed this morning in one of them, lots of wriggly little black things, which I don't want to disturb. Do frogs spawn in the middle of December? and will these be tadpoles.
If they are, should I do anything for them, or just leave them be?
Last overnight temperature here was -2 C.

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-2011, 12:53 PM

I did read on a forum recently of frog spawn + small tadpoles on the Lizard in Cornwall.

triops · #3 (**permalink**) 10-12-2011, 03:32 PM

How about a picture? Wriggly black things could be several species!

Kayleigh · #4 (**permalink**) 10-12-2011, 04:33 PM

Have a look at mosquito larvae in google and compare them to what you have in your pond.

Ken P · #5 (**permalink**) 10-12-2011, 04:38 PM

re picture
I'll have to try to catch one
They aren't too hot on posing, dive for the bottom the minute you approach!
Watch this space....

King Edward · #6 (**permalink**) 10-12-2011, 05:41 PM

That does sound like mosquito larva (or pupae, which are more comma-shaped).

Dogghound · #7 (**permalink**) 10-12-2011, 06:45 PM

Very vague, frogs have been recorded breeding in December however it is unusual (in most places), although unlikely in your area if ou are getting these kinds of temperatures. It is common for amphibian larvae to overwinter if conditions are insufficient for them to complete metamorphosis in their first year.

As othes have said probably something else.

Naturenutz · #8 (**permalink**) 10-12-2011, 10:36 PM

I doubt they are tadpoles.That would mean spawn being layed in november allowing for spawn developing into independent tadpoles in december..

Jason Green · #9 (**permalink**) 10-12-2011, 11:22 PM

Do they rest 'by default' around the top, with the tip of their tails just under the water's surface? I suspect so, and the way you describe them leaving en-masse sounds very much more like mosquitoe larvae.

In either case, I personally never noted either active in December.

GCN lova · #10 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 03:32 PM

When i was small(er) i had a bucket pond and i remember in autumn/ winter when our taddies had left mosquitoe larvae went crazy breeding. Im 99% sure they're mosquitoe larvae.