Posted by Bengt Andersson on 19-10-2006 10:53
#1
I have been lead to this magnificent forum by my requests about a curious larva.
A friend phoned me and told about an observation of ?hundreds? of larvae standing tightly together on their abdominal tips with heads upright in an almost circular form (diameter 7 cm), like a pin cushion! They were all about 20 mm long (18-22 mm). In spite of the low temperature, +8 centigrades, the were very alert, at least when you touched them. One hour later they had moved, still all together, some 10 cm over the area (a path in a garden). Date 13 Oct. 2006. The location is in the southeast of Sweden.
It has worked out to be a Bibionidae species!
The behavour of the larvae is remarkable! Specialists asked have never heard of anything like it, so the Webmaster asked me to publish this on Diptera.info, so I'd better listen and do so! Someone of you could possible be helpful!
Can anyone on this list make an ID of the species, I'd be very glad!
Or must I wait until next spring to get an adult? I hereby promise to publish an image of the species here, if I'll find any!
Posted by Bengt Andersson on 19-10-2006 11:00
#2
Image didn't show up! I'll try again.
Edited by Bengt Andersson on 19-10-2006 22:16
Posted by Tony Irwin on 19-10-2006 18:09
#3
It's
Bibio, rather than
Dilophus, but I'm not sure we'll be able to get it to species - Need to check some other literature.
Posted by Cranefly on 10-11-2008 12:11
#4
Most likely (90%) Bibio pomonae F., Bibionidae