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Found in a small, rotten log next to a stream in Massachusetts, USA. I keyed it to Epiphragma but it doesn't look like one -- creeping welts are small and there are four small, equal lobes around the spiracles. It's not a good match for the description of larva E. fasciapenne (my local species) or the picture in the gallery of E. ocellaris.

Length is 23 mm.

Head:


Tail:


Lateral:


Dorsal:


Click any picture for larger size.

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I vote for Rhagio (Rhagionidae)???

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You have my vote too
In Europe Rhagio has this typical headcapsule, so why not in USA.

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Thanks. I thought the lobes were unique to Tipulidae (s. lat.). I once saw a Rhagio mystaceus near this larva.

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Hello John
Rhagionidae larva can have four lobes (as in some species of former Limoniidae), but the posterior spiracles are positioned at the base of the dorsal lobes instead of in the centre part. The head capsule however is unique for Rhagio, and this type is not present in no species of former Limoniidae. The headcapule of Rhagio consists of two parts, an anterior part joint together by two thin lateral lines with the posterior part. This posterior part has a extra median extension protruded into a small lobe. In Limoniidae the headcapsule is almost completely chitinized to very much reduced, but never with a distinct anterior and posterior part.

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According to the MND, both Chrysopilus (in part) and Rhagio larvae have all of the characters shown...would need to look at the basal sclerite of the mandible to see if it is toothed (Rhagio) or not (Chrysopilus).

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The difference in headcapsule between Rhagio (2 parts) and Chrysopilus (more complete capsule) is taken from Smith (1989:British flies) and Rüdiger Wagner (pers.comm.). Perhaps it is true for the palaearctic, but not for the Nearctic?

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You are most likely correct - all I have here is the MND key and it does not use the completeness of head capsule for ID. Maybe it is only true of certain Nearctic Chrysopilus....