Heads n' Tails, Another Worm

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 7:58 am

Sony DSC-P200
1/200 sec. @ f/2.8 ISO 100
Zeiss Axiostar Plus 40X/0.65 CP Achromat
Brightfield, halogen illumination
Stitched and Processed w/Photo Impact 6

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:13 am

Nice picture, Ken -- both interesting and attractive!

I'm quite ignorant about worms of all sorts, and I guess I have some misconceptions too 'cuz I find I'm surprised to see those long hairs or bristles or whatever they are on the lower worm, and also a hint of "hair" around the head(?) of the upper worm. Worms got hair?!

Where should I go looking to read up on these things?

--Rik

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:27 am

Very nice colors and details Ken.

Seems hair is stylish again.

Wim van Egmond · Post by **Wim van Egmond** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:50 am

Midge larva!

Wim

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 11:32 am

Wim said:

Midge larva!

That's it! I knew I had seen this somewhere before but could not put a finger on what it was. Thanks Wim

There ya go Rik, midge larva

Why I did not know what this was is beyond me. I always considered myself, well maybe not knowledgable but a rather informed fly fisherman and as many size 20 to 32 midge patterns I have tied and pulled my hair out over, I should have known this.

Wim van Egmond · Post by **Wim van Egmond** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 12:47 pm

It's a very nice picture Ken! Super! This is quite a different midge larvae than the usual ones. I think it is the head and tail of a Forcipomyia species, a biting midge. They are nasty when they are adults. A relative of this midge was in the news in my country because they spread blue tongue disease in sheep.

I have a picture of a midge that resembles yours in my little museum:

http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/micropo ... index.html

Wim

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 12:50 pm

That's it Wim. I have some full bodied shots, though not very detailed, however it does match perfectly the Forcipomyia that is on your web site. Thanks for the positive Id.

Wim van Egmond · Post by **Wim van Egmond** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 12:53 pm

Make sure you don't let it hatch!

They realy bite!

Wim

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 3:40 pm

Ken Ramos wrote:There ya go Rik, midge larva

Midge larvae, eh? I would have gone about 2 lifetimes without getting that ID. Just goes to show that I should spend more time fishing!

--Rik

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 5:13 pm

Really good photo Ken - the more I look at it the more detail I discover. Surprising difference in colour and opacity between the two individuals

Bruce

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 5:35 pm

The colors are sort of a bit contrasty, the head and the gut line being the most colorful. Thanks Bruce