Patrick and other Fans of Flies -
A few more comments on rat-tailed maggots:
Adults are called "flower flies" and some are mimics of bees and wasps.
Tails of the larvae are respiratory tubes that function a bit like snorkels
(which must limit the water depths they inhabit).
They usually occur in fish-less habitats but are apparently quite palatable.
Larvae are (or were) readily available from commercial bait dealers in the
north (my wife and I ordered them for the insect shows we used to do).
My own experience has been that many aquatic naturalists have not seen them -
probably because they (the maggots) occur in such transient, shallow, dirty,
or remote (e.g., tree-holes) places that they are not often encountered by
seine- or dipnet-wielding collectors.
By the way - nice pics.
- Jan Hoover
Vicksburg, MS
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association (NANFA). Comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of NANFA. For more information about NANFA,
/ visit http://www.nanfa.org Please make sure all posts to nanfa-l are
/ consistent with the guidelines as per
/ http://www.nanfa.org/guidelines.shtml To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get
/ help, visit the NANFA email list home page and archive at
/ http://www.nanfa.org/email.shtml