Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Metriocnemus purple to brown larvae

Posted by solito de solis on 27-06-2015 11:27
#1

Hi, everyone
I wish to know if the colour of a Orthocladiinae larva is a specific features that could help for its determination
I found this larvae (there wer a lot of its) in acidic water of a sphagnum marsh (pH 4 )
and I already could say that this is a Orthocladiinae larvae
but to go further... the colour ? What's is th nature of this colour ?

rodredi.free.fr/blueortho.jpg

thank you
SDS

Edited by solito de solis on 16-10-2015 10:56

Posted by atylotus on 27-06-2015 17:47
#2

I think this is Metriocnemus, some species do have these purple coloration. I also think I see short antenna, which fit for Metriocnemus too

Posted by solito de solis on 28-06-2015 00:14
#3

Merci beaucoup
can we go further with these pictures

rodredi.free.fr/metrocne01.jpg

(short antenna)

rodredi.free.fr/metrocne02.jpg

rodredi.free.fr/metrocne03.jpg

rodredi.free.fr/metrocne04.jpg

Are Metriocnemus hygropetricus or
Metriocnemus cavicola

possible ?

Nevertheless, I'm already happy
SDS

SDS

Edited by solito de solis on 28-06-2015 00:17

Posted by solito de solis on 28-06-2015 00:50
#4

rodredi.free.fr/metrio0.jpg

rodredi.free.fr/metrio1.jpg

Posted by solito de solis on 16-10-2015 00:16
#5

hey
this is a new brand clip video about these larvae

YouTube Video


cordialement
SDS

rodredi.free.fr/metrio/metrioant1.jpg


rodredi.free.fr/metrio/metrioant2.jpg


rodredi.free.fr/metrio/metrioant3.jpg

Edited by solito de solis on 16-10-2015 18:10

Posted by Tony Irwin on 16-10-2015 22:31
#6

It might be worth checking whether these magnificent colours are due to an iridovirus, although I understand that studies on chironomids attacked by iridoviruses show that they do not normally display the bright colours that other invertebrates do. (See p.256 of Yoshinori Tanada, ā€ˇHarry K. Kaya - 2012 - Insect Pathology.)

Posted by atylotus on 17-10-2015 00:35
#7

This is the typical color pattern within Metriocnemus hygropeticus agg. I have never seen any other colorpattern within this complex
So I don't think it's a virus.