While perusing a "wild" pond sample this evening I came across this. The "spines" caught my attention at 40x - but at 100x I was pretty set back by what appeared to be a "leg." Anyone have any idea what this may actually be?
My thinking was this was some form of plant till seeing the "leg" but it also doesn't seem to be "in proportion." I'm thinking at this point they are completely unrelated. Still not sure why the "plant" would be underwater in the substrate.
No idea what this is
-
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2018 12:40 am
No idea what this is
- Attachments
-
- 122418 unk - insect larvae qm.png (451.19 KiB) Viewed 5585 times
Re: No idea what this is
Possibly the remains of the exoskeleton from a dead thrip.
Peter.
Peter.
- iconoclastica
- Posts: 191
- Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2019 5:43 pm
Re: No idea what this is
It's hard to see without the possibiity to move around. I think you have there the remains of more than one dead body clung together. The spiny thing might well be a wing. Small insects often have extending hairs instead of glassy wings. Thrip could very well be the correct suggestion indeed. Alternatively it could be a mandiible shaped for sifting through the water. But since it's so elongated I think its a wing.
- iconoclastica
- Posts: 191
- Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2019 5:43 pm
Re: No idea what this is
It's hard to see without the possibility to move around. I think you have there the remains of more than one dead body clung together. The spiny thing might well be a wing. Small insects often have hairs extending from a central stiff instead of glassy wings. Thrip could very well be the correct suggestion indeed. Alternatively it could be a mandible shaped for sifting through the water. But since it's so elongated I think its a wing.