This Soldier Fly larva is approximately 1 inch long. It has a small head and a long segmented body. The last segment is snorkel-like with whitish water-repellent hairs and serves as a breathing apparatus. The body is brown with dark gray lines and wavy markings and short hairs at the segments. It does not have legs.
This is a common larva in ponds and slow moving streams. The individuals shown here were photographed in the small pond at Camp Brewster at Fontenelle Forest in early August and in the stream in Child’s Hollow in early May (photo F).
These aquatic larvae eat algae or small aquatic animals. They pupate inside the tough larval skin which is covered with calcium carbonate. They extend their abdomens to breathe above the water surface (photos D & E).
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