Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Big larva in the water

Posted by Isidro on 29-06-2008 15:47
#1
Yesterday. La Pe?a, Huesca, NE Spain. 500 meters high. Mix of mediterranean and mountain climate. Habitat: floating in the water, but looks like more fallen in it than swimming and living in it. Size: about 30 mm.

Horseflies of Chrysops caecutiens species are very common in the zone. Could be its larvae?

img29.picoodle.com/img/img29/4/6/29/f_larva1m_9b7361c.jpg

img29.picoodle.com/img/img29/4/6/29/f_larva2m_60d0998.jpg

Thanks
Regards

Posted by Paul Beuk on 30-06-2008 09:16
#2
Looks like it could be tabanid. Something for Theo.

Posted by Isidro on 30-06-2008 13:33
#3
Theo is on holydays...

Posted by Tony T on 30-06-2008 16:55
#4
Paul Beuk wrote:
Looks like it could be tabanid. Something for Theo.

Definitely a tabanid but not Chrysops. Thorax striations suggest Tabanus sp.
Quite easy to rear, keep in damp soil or sand, feed live fly larvae or live worms (or anything live that will burrow into wet substrate); they will eaven kill and eat recently transformed frogs.
They can inflict a painful bite to the human hand, take care

Posted by Tony Irwin on 30-06-2008 18:59
#5
Tony T wrote:
They can inflict a painful bite to the human hand, take care


I can testify to that - it really does hurt! Sad

Posted by Isidro on 30-06-2008 22:35
#6
Thanks, Tabanus then. I let the larva in the same place, so, I can't rear it. Fortunately it don't bited me.