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Hello everyone,

is someone here able to identify this larva?

Length 11 mm.

Thanks in advance,

Lennart

2015-04-05, Northern Germany, S-H, Mohrkirch, garden pond

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This looks like a pupal exuvia of a chironomid. There are keys to genera and species available.

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Thanks Tony, it somehow looked a bit empty indeed...

I can only find keys to the genera of our region, that you have to spend a fortune on
(e.g. Langton / Visser: Chironomidae Exuviae: A Key to Pupal Exuviae of the West Palaearctic Region).

Is there a less expensive one known as well?

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You might be able to get a second-hand copy of one of Langton's earlier keys?Alternatively, there is a Freshwater Biological Association key to genera by Wilson and Ruse (Special Publication no. 13) which is much cheaper than Langton and Visser.

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I think the Wilson / Ruse key should suffice for me and I hadn't known about its existence - thanks for the tip!

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if you can upload a detailed photo of the last 2 segments I may be able to tell you the genus. I'm in doubt right now. It is a Chironomini and it is close to Chironomus/Kiefferulus.

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Thanks for your help, but as I was taking this picture, I had no idea of how difficult it would be to identify it, so I didn't take any more photos - but next year I 'll know what to do...