New pond and moving things in it!

[uxbod]

Hello,

The wife and I have built a pure wildlife pond and when looking tonight have noticed little green like invertebrates that have a long tail and move like a caterpillar. What are these please ? It is all very exciting

Thanks you for your help.

[Za]

Hi Uxbod,
Welcome to WAB, thats a nice pond you have there, could you upload a picture of the things you see in the pond? sounds like some sort of insect larvae, but a picture should get you a positive ID on them from some of the experts here fairly quickly.
Cheers,
Za

[Falesh]

It sounds like a rat-tailed maggot. I had one that was just hatching into it flying stage but it was white not green.

[ExiledWool]

Originally Posted by Falesh

It sounds like a rat-tailed maggot. I had one that was just hatching into it flying stage but it was white not green.

I was about to ask the very same question and describe it as looking like a tampon because I really couldn't think of anything else it resembled.

Anyway, after looking at Falesh's response that's my question answered.

[uxbod]

Thank you for the replies and compliments. Its very much a work in progress. If weather is fine tomorrow will try and get some pics of the little wigglers

[uxbod]

I guess it could be a rat-tailed maggot from what I have read up on this evening; though wife is not impressed I did pick it up for a closer look, but did keep it under the water, and it did move like a caterpillar and was definately more green than white. Will take another look tomorrow.

[Gill Catton]

They do hatch into rather more splendid hoverflies which their larval
Name doesnt suggest!! They can survive in low oxygen levels because the 'tail' is actually more of a snorkel allowing them to breathe at the surface. At my old house where I had a very tiny pond I used to sometimes chuck squashed snails in (ones guilty of eating my runner beans) and the 'rat tailed mag it's loved them, so great clear up artists too. So ugly but not uninteresting!

[uxbod]

Whatever they are it is really great to see. Pond has only been in for two months so very pleased to see something at all. We have tried to get oxygenating plants in from the start; plus horned snails to eat the algae. We have a solar fountain in to help airate the pond. Very happy so far and we hope the wildlife will enjoy it. Amazed at how many beers have been landing on the pebble beach to drink water!

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by ExiledWool

I was about to ask the very same question and describe it as looking like a tampon because I really couldn't think of anything else it resembled.

.... LOL That made me laugh Nowadays, tampons have wings and fly!

Hoverflies are splendid handsome little creatures and were amongst the first flyers to visit my pond. They'll let you get quite close if you approach them very gently.

Does anyone know their breeding/life cycle in terms of the typical calendar months, please?