help to identify pond creature please

[Marie-Helene]

hello,

I have a tiny wildlife pond with much mosquito larvae, snails, blood worms, rat tailed maggots, tadpoles, frogs, water measurers and other things, which i am very pleased about as it is relatively new. I have just discovered these new creatures that come to the surface more as it gets dark. They propel themselves along by uncurling and curling very quickly. I made a composite picture of it from images I was able to get as it flitted around in a bead of water under the microscope. I would be grateful if someone could help me to identify this creature. (it has antennae like Shrek's ears!) It also has a double tail like two fine feathers and hairs sticking out of it's back where the back segments.



Thanks
MH

[Ferret]

This is the pupal stage of a mosquito; the Shrek’s ears are breathing tubes not antenna.

Ferret

[GCN lova]

hi,

these are a stage of mosquitoe larvae (though i dont know if its called a pupae?). they'll come to the surface and mosquitoes will emerge from them when they are ready.

[Marie-Helene]

Thanks for the swift reply. I had a sneaking suspicion it was another stage as i have seen the 'empties' floating around. I figured the tubes were for breathing as they are poking out of the water. I think we shall be eaten alive very soon....

[GCN lova]

Originally Posted by Ferret

This is the pupal stage of a mosquito; the Shrek’s ears are breathing tubes not antenna.

Ferret

sorry i posted mine just after yours!

[Red Robin]

Depending what other creatures you have in your little black lagoon you'll find that, like frogspawn/tadpoles, very few may survive. They provide excellent food. It's all one big food chain soup.

That's a good shot. Do you specialise in macro/micro photography?

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Marie-Helene

Thanks for the swift reply. I had a sneaking suspicion it was another stage as i have seen the 'empties' floating around. I figured the tubes were for breathing as they are poking out of the water. I think we shall be eaten alive very soon....

Don't worry bats and birds will eat a lot. Pipstrelle bats capable of eating thousands of them per night! So just think of it as helping the local wildlife!

[Marie-Helene]

Hello there,

thanks for your comment. I actually have a childs 'Intel Play' pc microscope and it takes surprisingly good shots! The photos come out better than the live view.

As for my consomme, it's thick with mosquitos, nothing seems to be eating them, tho' there are many spiders waiting around the edge.

[King Edward]

Pond Skaters will eat midges and mosquitoes, jumping on them as they emerge. Probably not enough to dent the numbers though.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Don't worry bats and birds will eat a lot. Pipstrelle bats capable of eating thousands of them per night! So just think of it as helping the local wildlife!

The water measurers Will take the larvae and pupae too I believe