Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Blephariceridae larva

Posted by Cranefly on 18-03-2011 09:44
#1
Blephariceridae larva was collected on stones in quick mountain river in Russia, Tuva (centre of Asia). I doubt what genus it may be. Body length 7 mm.
Edited by Cranefly on 18-03-2011 10:11

Posted by Cranefly on 18-03-2011 09:45
#2
Cranefly wrote:
Blephariceridae larva was collected on stones in quick mountain river in Russia, Tuva (centre of Asia). I doubt what genus it may be.

Posted by Cranefly on 18-03-2011 09:46
#3
Cranefly wrote:
Cranefly wrote:
Blephariceridae larva was collected on stones in quick mountain river in Russia, Tuva (centre of Asia). I doubt what genus it may be.

Posted by Nikita Vikhrev on 19-03-2011 12:28
#4
Nice creature!

Posted by Tony Irwin on 19-03-2011 13:35
#5
I've seen drawings of these things, but this is really weird! - from a different planet!Smile

Posted by atylotus on 21-03-2011 11:27
#6
Dear Cranefly
I have never seen this before and the family doesn't even occur here in The Netherlands. But I have looked at some drawings of Blephariceridae in Tsalolikhin (ed., 1999). key to freshwater invertebrates of Russia, part 4Griniptera; plate 39-42; and your specimen looks quit like a species of the genus Agathon as pictured in plate 41:fig 7-11. The rows of small spinules on the head seems diagnostic. I will send you a copy of the Blephar...-part.
Edited by atylotus on 21-03-2011 11:46

Posted by Cranefly on 21-03-2011 15:46
#7
Many thanks, Atylotus!
If it were not for simple not bufurcate (like in Agathon) dorsal lateral projections I would agree with you. Reallly ia looks like Agathon species from Tsalolikhin. Possibly I have some earlier age - the length of the largest larva I have is about 7 mm, the others are smaller. Agathon species are about 9-10 mm. But rows of spines and spots on head are very similar to Agathon spp. Let it be Agathon with some doubt. We can suppose that this character may appear in the last age. Smile
It was the first time when I saw this nice creature

Posted by Cranefly on 21-03-2011 15:51
#8
Cranefly wrote:
Many thanks, Atylotus!
If it were not for simple not bufurcate (like in Agathon) dorsal lateral projections I would agree with you. Reallly ia looks like Agathon species from Tsalolikhin. Possibly I have some earlier age - the length of the largest larva I have is about 7 mm, the others are smaller. I had the same problem with Tripteroides larvae (Culicidae) - only one larva from the seria had branching seta, which allowed to determine it at last. Agathon species are about 9-10 mm. But rows of spines and spots on head are very similar to Agathon spp. Let it be Agathon with some doubt. We can suppose that this character may appear at the last age. Smile
It was the first time when I saw this nice creature
Cool

Posted by blowave on 21-03-2011 16:23
#9
Key details of Agathon sp. are shown on this site, it might help too...

http://www.dfg.ca...level1.asp

Janet

Posted by Cranefly on 21-03-2011 16:34
#10
Many thanksFrown. Looks similar. And dorsolateral projection simple there.
Edited by Cranefly on 21-03-2011 16:34

Posted by Matt Bertone on 21-03-2011 19:43
#11
For those interested, Greg Courtney put together a number of Blephariceridae keys here: http://www.ent.ia...leph/keys/

From the Holarctic larval key I got the genus Asioreas (which is central Asian in origin), but a few of the couplets were difficult using these photos....