Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Chaoborus obscuripes larva
#1
I took these larvae from aquarium fishes at Christams night to try to make photo.
I hope it is Chaoborum crystallinus, but need confirmation.
#2
to be sure you need to study the labral blade, the dorsal proces and the anal tubules. You can see the mandible very good and it is definitely NOT C. flavicans. To me the dorsal proces is short (in pallidus and obscuripes) and not protruded into a long pointed lobe (as in C. crystallinus and flavicans), the anal tubules seems as if they are rounded att he end (as in C. crystallinus and C. obscuripes) and not pointed (as in C. flavicans and C. pallidus). I can't really see the labral blade. If the labral blade is needle-like thin than it is C. pallidus, if it is a flattened plate then another species. In that case you have to check if the labral blade has a S-shaped edge with a long pointed end and wit honly minute smaller teeth along its edge (C. crystallinus) or is more or less rounded with many coarse teeth, especially at the end (as in C. obscuripes).
#3
Thank you, Atylotus. I'll try to study all these characters.
#4
dorsal processes short like in pallidus gradually bacoming shorter without any one protruding above, tubules long like fingers and rounded apically, as for labral blades - they are thickened basally, curved s-like basally, with very long and thin needle-like apical part - about 1,5 times as long as curved thickened basal part. Without dents. And only 2-3 of them are thickened significantly, the others thickened a little and look needle-like
#5
antenna with clear basal "depression"
#7
Antenna with constriction at its base, so next to C. flavicans, C. pallidus can be excluded also. Still remains C. crystallinus and obscuripes. Labral blade seems to be broken off. As the dorsal proces is short C. obscuripes is the most likley one.
#8
Many thanks for you help.
I discovered that I have better results in terrestrial larvae. Now I'll try to improve this and determine one more Chaoborus species myself.
#9
I have found labral blade at last. It is flat a little narrower than eye, about 3,5 times as long as wide, apex with incision separating oval darker lobe with a group of setae and some small teeth (possibly 2, one of them is larger) at apex. Preapical part has a group of setae too. I am away from the stereomicroscope now and can/' t make photo till Monday.
#11
I apply to your help once more. I have no figures of labral blade in the keys which I use. And can't read text on that page kindly attached to Ch. obscrupes discussion. So I attach labral blade of this creature to become sure at last ; What was it?
#12
Dear Cranefly, to me it looks like C. obscuripes. The labral blade in this case is large, flat and in the apical part coarsely toothed. This is typical for C. obscuripes.
#13
Many-many thanks. I am really so glad to complete our long and productive discussion. So, I chnge the title for obscuripes!!!
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