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Hello,

I’m writing on behalf of a fellow insect amateur who has tried to raise a diptera larva after having collected it under an old little pinwood plank placed on ground in his garden.

He succeeded raising it through a second and final larva instar (not sure, but the larva appearance changed), and then could obtain the pupa. Unfortunately, despite his conscientious care the pupa died before providing the imago.

The larva looked like it was eating “something” on the wood surface, but nothing was obvious. Also, the head was retractile.
When turning into a pupa the larva created a small silk-like net.

We suspect it could be a Mycetophilidae, is it correct and is it possible to go beyond that ?

Collected: Feb. 27th, 2014 in France, 06800 Cagnes-sur-Mer

Thank you very much for your help !

Larva as collected: 2.5 x 1.5 mm


Second instar (?) larva 2.8 x 1.3 mm on March 2nd:


Right before pupa: 3,5 x 1,5 mm, same day:


The pupa: 2.9 x 0.9 mm, March 3rd:


Each image is clickable to enlarge it.

If necessary we also have pictures of the pupa somewhat later, before it began to rot.
Thanks again for your help !

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At least the genus Phronia has such larvae.

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Thank you very much Paul !

P.S.: Of course the thanks come both from myself (Caillou) and from the pictures' author !