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Hi,

we found plenty of larvae in buds of Hydrangaea in a horticultural farm. Glandorf North-West Germany, January 2012.
Is it possible to identify it?

Thanks in advance
Thomas

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A larva of Psychodidae, but I cannot tell you the genus or species name with certainty. Most likely something like Psychoda, Tinearia or perhaps Trichopsychoda.

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Thank you for the family-ID!
Thomas

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If you rear some of the larvae I can identify adults.

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Thank you for the offer, Gunnar,

however, as we found them in a horticultural farm producing Hydrangea, I am not sure, that we can get some larvae for rearing.
How should we rear the larvae? On what do they feed (probably not phytophageous)?

best regards
Thomas

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I think the best shot is to bring some of the infected buds indoors, keeping them slightly moist and see whether the larvae hatch. If they are Psychoda (which they look like to me) the life cycle should be fairly short.

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I have now read the available literature on European Psychoda larvae. The specimen in your picture has 26 dorsal plates, some of which are much more narrow than the others; leading me to conclude that it most likely belongs to Psychoda cinerea Banks, 1894 or Psychoda gemina (Eaton, 1904).

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Thank you very much for your effort, Gunnar!

If we can get some adults, I will conatct you again. In the farm some adults were found on sticky traps, but I think those are not OK for ID.

As far as we know, Psychoda is not feeding on living plants. But how can they survive in the buds? It is humid there, but hardly any organic matter (besides the fresh plant material). Any idea?

kind regards
Thomas

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Many Psychoda species are very opportunistic in their ecology, it is phytophagy is not previously recorded but is not impossible. Maybe it eats algae or fungi on the bud? In any case, this is a new habitat record for Psychoda.