Aphid predator: fly larva

ironman_br · Post by **ironman_br** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 2:24 am

Great capture! Thanks to share photos and info!

Harold Gough · Post by **Harold Gough** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 3:42 am

This was posted before I joined.

The larva looks very much like that of an aphidophagous syrphid but is less dorsolaterally flatted and those horns separate it straight away.

Harold

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 8:25 am

Harold Gough wrote:The larva looks very much like that of an aphidophagous syrphid but is less dorsolaterally flatted and those horns separate it straight away.

So, do the horns help to identify what it is, or just what it is not?

I'm still not even sure this thing is a fly larva!

--Rik

Harold Gough · Post by **Harold Gough** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 1:12 am

Rik,

I am not a dipterist but I think your answer lies here:

http://www.cottoncrc.org.au/content/Ind ... erfly.aspx

Your larva seems to be a Leucopis.

Aphidoletes aphidimyza larva are orange but the orange part of yours is an internal structure.

The pointed front end, including the head, of these dipteran larvae is made posible by slender, internal, stylet-shaped, piercing mouthparts.

Harold

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 11:34 am

Thanks for the suggestion, Harold.

It seems that a rearing project is called for, if I should ever run across another one of these.

--Rik