[ID] Small pond invertebrate...

[Jason Green]

Hi everyone,

A small pond insect requiring identification, please!

04/08/2009

c2-3mm long in a 7-14 day-old body of water...
...and when disturbed it paddles down to the bottom at moderate speed.

Thanks for looking!

Take care,

Jason

[Dogghound]

Its a Mosquito pupa Jase.

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Its a Mosquito pupa Jase.

Pupa? But... I didn't know these were an active life stage though? I always assumed they were static in all cases - as in ladybird's for instance. This certainly is, the mobility almost comparable to the other mosquito larvae present!

Thanks Dan

[Dogghound]

Some insects have quite active pupa. I guess this is one. The adult splits out of the back, the two horns are spiracles (for breathing).

[Jason Green]

Thanks Dan - another thing learnt! So, what terrestrial invertebrates have active pupal stages?

[Dogghound]

Some moths, beetles will be quite active if disturbed, or can work their way deeper underground or into cracks etc. When I say active I dont mean running around I mean abdominal movement etc. Ones like you mosquito is floating so will move very freely often without it actually doing anything.

[lipase]

The mealworm pupae I'm keeping seem to be mildly active and thrash when they're disturbed. So is a caterpiller in a cocoon the pupa stage of it's life?

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by lipase

The mealworm pupae I'm keeping seem to be mildly active and thrash when they're disturbed. So is a caterpiller in a cocoon the pupa stage of it's life?

Yes, the equivalent

[loripo]

Ladybird pupae 'flip' upright don't they? Is that just a reflex of some sort?