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Travis K

TravIsGinger
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I went dip netting in a pond yesterday and found only one of this Dobson Fly Larva:cry:




I have seen that some species display external lungs, but this one has a single spiracle at the end of it's tail. Anyone game for suggesting which species I likely have? FYI, specimen was found in Eastern Washington.


Cheers,
 

Masurai

Arachnobaron
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I'll triple the predacious diving beetle larva ID. They are great little bug, very fun to watch.
 

beetleman

Arachnoking
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yup, that's what it is........ooh awesome water tiger! it's gonna change into a pretty good sized diving beetle,wouldn't mind having some of those:) nice find.
 

Galapoheros

ArachnoGod
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It looks big, kept some of those, they swim with their wimpy legs sometimes. Don't know where they go to pupate though, wondered about that.
 

beetleman

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once they are ready to pupate,they will leave the water and bury themselves in moist loose soil/moss at the edge of the pond,there they will pupate and return to the water. man there are some big sp.up there in washington,down here in fla.we have the smaller cybisters which are cool and all,but i want the big ones from there:)
 

Travis K

TravIsGinger
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Thanks guys. After reading up on Dytiscus I now know what I need to do. My guy was trying to get out of the water to pupate when I saw him/her. I will end up going back to those ponds and looking for more of the larger species.

Malhavoc, Yes I know there are more than one but the smaller one in the back ground is a different species. I had a smaller one of this same larger species but it expired in route to the house. I think it got chomped by one of the other aquatic inverts. I lost about 5 or 6 salamander larva too by invert predation.

Any tips on creating suitable habitat for it to pupate? Will moist coco fiber be fine?
 
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Travis K

TravIsGinger
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Well I got home on Wednesday and it was dead. I imagine it was ready to leave the pond and pupate on Saturday when I caught it. It had nowhere to get out of the water. I was just one day too late :-( I will be trying to get some more though and this time I will be more prepared.
 

loxoscelesfear

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I think moist coco fiber should work.
Not knocking your suggestion. I have had moisture loving spiders die of dessication because cocoa fiber absorbs moisture like no tomorrow. Damp and wet cocoa fiber tends to mold from my experience. Maybe some damp top soil? oh, and Travis K, there's a giant snake about to bite your face :eek:
 

beetleman

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when i used to raise the fla. sp.(cybisters)i would keep each larvae in seperate containers,fairy deep water,and sphagnum moss,the moss was in the water,and sloped out of the water,and when it was time the larvae would crawl out and bury itself in the moss and pupate with no problems.
 

Travis K

TravIsGinger
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when i used to raise the fla. sp.(cybisters)i would keep each larvae in seperate containers,fairy deep water,and sphagnum moss,the moss was in the water,and sloped out of the water,and when it was time the larvae would crawl out and bury itself in the moss and pupate with no problems.
Thanks.

I went looking for more in a lager body of water this weekend but was not able to find anything. I will try and go back to the place I caught the one above another time. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
 

beetleman

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fingers crossed:) they seem to be common in very weedy ponds,not large bodies of water,smaller ponds is more for them,i used to go to the smaller shallow weedy bodies of water and always net out a bunch.
 
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