Likes Likes:  0
Thanks Thanks:  0
HaHa HaHa:  0
Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Need help identifying insect larva

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    SE Iowa
    Posts
    118
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Need help identifying insect larva


    I have a friend that has an in ground pool. It had liner problems last year so he decided not to fill it up this year. He took a job offer down in Arkansas so he has not been home for a month or two. We have had so much rain so far that it has filled the pool up to about 1 foot deep in the shallow end. I looked at the pool the other day and saw tons of frogs and tadpoles in there. Very green water too. I also saw what i thought were leaches. I went back today to gather as many as i could to use for bait and realized these were not leaches. There has to be dozens maybe hundreds of them in there.

    I took a few to a local conservation board office and after looking through some books they said it was some sort of insect larva. 6 legs indicate it is an insect. Probably beetle larva of some kind. They have some huge looking pinchers too. Big too. Some are from 3 to 4 inches in length.

    Does anyone know what these are? I would guess they still could be used for bait. Just not so sure i would want to be handling them.

    EDIT - I did find something that looks similar in a google search. A Great diving beetle. It looks very similar except they have longer legs and a forked tail differing from what i have. With so many different species out there, that is the closest i can find.

    Google Image Result for http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/successn/images/gdb.jpg
    Attached Images Attached Images     
    Last edited by Iowabucks; 06-21-2010 at 02:12 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Tavares, FL
    Posts
    2,424
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    They look to me like they would be great pan fish bait.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Down by the Coosa River
    Posts
    2,579
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Look like Water Beetle larvae to me.

    water beetle larvae - Google Search

    Great bait!

    Water Scavenger Beetle to be more precise.
    http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CBwQ9QEwAw

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Knoxville, TN
    Posts
    2,919
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    don't know, but put 'em on a hook and let us know how it goes!!!! Looks yummy to me

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Knoxville, TN
    Posts
    2,919
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I agree with GCD....looks like "water beetle" to me.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Milky Way Galaxy
    Posts
    9,404
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Looks like that nasty thing Khan stuck in Chekhov's ear in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.

    For the record, though, it's probably not.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Down by the Coosa River
    Posts
    2,579
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by deathb4disco View Post
    Looks like that nasty thing Khan stuck in Chekhov's ear in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.

    For the record, though, it's probably not.
    Nah, that was an Ant Lion.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

BACK TO TOP