www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

As I was filling our (small) pond and clearing out some of the duck weed, I spotted this strange, segmented creature, without obvious legs (or head!) and apparently breathing through the tip of its tail:







It is about 4 cm long and seemed to move very slowly, mostly with a twisting motion. When I first saw it I thought it was the broken-off tail of a newt (there are plenty of newts in the pond) but as soon as I looked at it it was clear it was an independent beastie.

Can someone tell me what it is?

Thank you,

Guy

Hi Guy, looks like some form of Soldier Fly larvae

Hi Guy,

Judging by its size and that long breathing tube at the tail, it could possibly be the nymph stage of the water stick-insect Ranatra linearis.
Having said that, although I have found the occasional adult over the years, I have never found its nymph and I haven't yet managed to find any images of them in any of my books or online.

All the best, Nigel.

Hi Guy,

Typical!!

Just after pressing the enter button I took another look in my copy of "Insects of Britain and Ireland" by Paul Brock and found an image of the nymph of linearis which is just a smaller version of the adult.

As you were.

Nigel.

Thank you both. I think Buggy has it:

https://bugguide.net/node/view/219680

I do that kind of thing a lot, Nigel! You will now remember forever that the nymphs of Ranatra linearis look like small versions of the adults. I don't think I've ever seen this species on our tiny pond but I have seen soldier flies around.

Guy

How right you are Guy.

I now know what a linearis nymph looks like and also a soldier fly larva. We just never stop learning.

Nigel.

Another great educational experience on this website. I hope I am not alone and not letting the side down by finding that to be quite an unpleasant looking thing. It is the sort of creature that Tom Baker went after in 1970s Dr Who episodes.

Otep wrote: ↑Mon Apr 05, 2021 4:16 pm... It is the sort of creature that Tom Baker went after in 1970s Dr Who episodes.

Buffy slew a few similar things in her day too! Like the ugly duckling, though, this floating stomach will grow up into a very smart adult.

When I remove duckweed, I first examine it for aquatic creatures then leave it right next to the pond so anything I've missed has a chance of making it back to the water. It's amazing how much life such a small pond can support.

Guy