Who's good at identifying bugs ?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying a type of larva found in an aquaponics system. Participants explore potential species and their characteristics, focusing on mosquito larvae, water beetle larvae, and caddisfly larvae. The context includes both identification and the implications of the findings for the aquaponics setup.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant found a larva in their aquaponics reservoir and speculates it could be either a mosquito larvae or a water-beetle larva based on a provided chart.
  • Another participant questions the identification of mosquito larvae, noting that they do not have pairs of legs on the first three segments, which may exclude that option.
  • A suggestion is made that the larva could also be a caddisfly larvae, which has similar leg characteristics and prefers fast-moving water.
  • There is a discussion about the growth stages of larvae, with a participant noting that the 1/8" size indicates it may be in an intermediary stage and that observing its growth could aid in identification.
  • One participant advises using fine screening material to prevent the adult from escaping while it is being studied.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the identification of the larva, with no consensus reached on which species it may belong to. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact identification.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the identification process, such as the lack of size information in the provided chart and the potential for multiple species to share similar characteristics.

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Anyone know what it could be ?
 

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Monique said:
Where did you get them from?

Anything in here that could be it? http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/pond/insects.html

I found it in my reservoir tank in my aquaponics system. It probably got drained out from the "grow bed". A grow bed is a gravel-filled container where plants will be growing. The grow bed constantly gets flooded with water from a fish tank via water pump and then drains into a reservoir. And then from the reservoir, where the water pump is located, will pump the water back into the fish tank and the cycle repeats.

The only closest thing I can choose from that chart is that its either a mosquito larvae or a water-beetle larva. I really hope it's a water-beetle larva... since mosquitoes got bad rep, right? I think it resembles more of the water-beetle larva though...

Too bad that chart didn't list the sizes. This one I found is roughly 1/8" long.

How would I grow this thing? Maybe I can identify it after it grows.
 
I don't believe mosquito larvae have pairs of legs on the first 3 segments. That excludes the mosquito.
A water beetle is a good guess, perhaps the http://www.bgsd.k12.wa.us/hml/jr_cam/macros/efl_spr06/efl_spr06.html" . (scroll down that page)
"[URL
Caddisfly[/URL] larvae also have 3 pairs of legs on 1st three segments. (scroll down to 'Order Trichoptera'). They like fast moving water from which they filter plankton to eat.

Larvae generally go through several molts (in star) stages, getting larger with each successive stage, so the 1/8in long larva, may be one of the intermediary stages. If you want see the adult; it is finding food where you found it, just let it grow. You probably want to put fine screening material around the tank, such that the adult won't be able to fly away, until after you've studied it.
 
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