Diptera.info

Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Unknown insect (?)

Posted by cmlatpcas on 16-03-2009 13:55

I collected a specimens in a bowl of salad. I have no idea where the vegetable (mainly lettuce) come from but my home city is Hong Kong. Somebody told me that it may be a larva of coleoptera and some say it may be some form of dipterean fly. Can anybody help.

Edited by cmlatpcas on 16-03-2009 14:13

Posted by Tony Irwin on 16-03-2009 19:08

It looks like a Lepidoptera larva, possibly with a parasitic fly puparium inside - rather difficult to say without seeing the specimen. How big was it?

Posted by cmlatpcas on 17-03-2009 07:29

Thanks Tony.

The speciemens is about 0.5 cm long.

I have another picture with closer look. Can this helps.

What are the morphological features you will suggest me to look into.

Posted by socrates on 17-03-2009 12:38

any picture on the dorsal side showing the mouthpart?
looks like a hymenopteran larva...but not sure though..

Edited by socrates on 17-03-2009 12:39

Posted by Tony Irwin on 17-03-2009 19:35

Not sure - i think I'll stick with Lepidoptera - a young larva. It's quite small, so the puparium (if it is one) might be Phoridae. I think the next stage is to open it up to see what's inside.