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Location: Near Stockholm, Sweden
Date: 2007-NOV-03
Habitat: Park
Size: ~10 mm

I hope this is a diptera larvae. It looks a bit like Syrphidae larva I've seen photos of, but isn't at bit late for them a this time of year!?

Edit: Changed subject (Syrphidae larvae?)

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Another view.

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Third view.

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Crex

I've found a syrphid larva (Sphaerophoria) in late October. It overwintered in this state and pupated in late winter and hatched mid-spring. I think your larva is out and about seeking moisture on a mild day.

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Thanx Susan. I wouldn't say that the weather was mild that day. It was the first day with snow :(

Can I get a confirmation if it is Syrphidae or are there other diptera families larvae that look like this? I guess there is no chance of a species ID from any diptera larvae B) I took photos of a similar larvae earlier this year, but that one was more brown colored. I'll post that one later.

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Definitely subfamily Syrphinae of the hoverflies. Syrphus seems the most probable genus.

In fact many, probably most diptera larvae are identifiable to species level. Unfortunately most diptera larvae are very poorly known. But in the well-studied groups larvae are sometimes even easier to identify than the corresponding adults :o

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you must be joking, Kahis... :P Can you provide some examples? I'm very curious! :) Maybe you are talking about Sarcophagidae larvae? :D
Thanks, Kahis.

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Thanx Jere! I wonder if I should submit the photos to the gallery as Syrphus sp ...

Are there any good literature on Syrphidae larvae?

It would be nice to have the photos of the larvae together for comparison. Perhaps if PHP-Fusion would allow photos to reside in two albums at the same time (without making double files) or if a "virtual album" could be made.

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sure, crex.
Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae (Diptera, Syrphidae)
by Rotheray, G.E
:D ;)
in
https://colorado..../search.pl

choose CATn.. 10263 Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae (Diptera, Syrphidae) Rotheray, G.E. ?16.50

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Ok, thnx. Is it good? It doesn't cover all palearctic species I gather!?

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i don?t know, crex. I don?t have that book. I only have 2 books so far about diptera. :)

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Rotheray's book goes only to genus level for the most cases. It cover the British fauna and some 'continental' genera. Nonetheless, it is a 'must have' for anyone interested in Syrphidae.

Another book certainly worth buying (it's cheap too!) is Smith, K. G. V. 1989. An introduction to the immature stages of British flies. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects Vol. 10, Part 14. 280 pp. Royal Entomological Society of London.

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Thanx again Jere! ... and Jorge, you really need to get some more books on diptera ;)

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i don't need that... because I have better: diptera.info :D :D

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Crex

Graham Rotheray was very helpful to me when I had a larva that I wanted IDing and some advice about rearing. I don't think he would mind you contacting him. I can give you his email address by pm if you want it.

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Ok, thnx, can't hurt to try :D

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Graham Rotheray was kind enough to take a peek at my photos and he writes: "Yes it looks like a Syrphus larva to me, probably ribesii. Like Syrphus ribesii, quite a number of predatory syrphine larvae have autumn generations so can occur late in the year. For example, aphid-infested Acer pseudoplatanus is a good place to find them in the autumn. They will soon finish feeding, empty their guts of accumulated black material (you can see this through the integument) and start overwintering. Usually they do this in leaf litter under the plants where they have been developing."