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Spercheus emarginatus,larva 25-06-2003
Spercheus emarginatus
larva

The larva of Spercheus emarginatus carries remarkable, wartlike appendages at the margin of the abdomen. It reminds a little of the larva of the ant-lion. This specimen is pale and quite transparent, the airducts (trachaea)are clearly visible, especially the right stem. They end in the two holes (stigmata) at the tip of the abdomen. The larva gets its air supply at the water surface through these holes. The larva has a relatively large head.

Spercheus emarginatus,larva 20-07-1997
The larva on the photo above is larger than the specimen on the photo at left, which is an earlier stage. It is darker and carries a few parasitic watermites. The larva might be attacked by the watermite larvae as it scrolls under the water surface, because many watermite larvae run around on it to attach themselves to waterstriders etc. This Spercheus larva was caught six years earlier, same ditch as the specimen above. With the last one I caught again some larva at about the same age as the one left, also with mites. It seems they only attach at a certain age of this larva and let go afterward.

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All pictures on this site were made by Gerard Visser (Aadorp, Netherlands), unless stated otherwise. All rights remain with him. These pictures may not be used for purposes any other than private viewing or printing. Do NOT hardlink to these pictures or place them on other websites without the author's approval. Should you need them for purposes which include third parties, you must ask the author permission by e-mail. People, who want to use this pictures for exhibitions or publications or educative material are much encouraged to do so, after approval as mentioned and giving the normal credits.
© G.H. Visser 09-03-2004
rev. 18-10-2008

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