Syrphid Larva

Eating organic vegetables is obviously healthy and good for the environment. But, I love getting organic produce because it often has insects on it! I found this syrphid larva on some organic green leaf lettuce yesterday! I kept it and hope it pupates.

Syrphid larvae eat decaying vegetation, aphids, wood, etc. depending on the species. There were no aphids on this lettuce, so I'm hoping it will just eat the lettuce.

comments (2)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

How cool! Is that a breathing motion in the video? Posted 5 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks!
  
  No, the central brownish part is probably the gut and the whitish parts on the sides of the midgut are likely the nerve cord (CNS) and and blood vessel. It looks like this syrphid larva is breathing through 2 spiracles at its rear end. Posted 5 years ago

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