Strange looking insect larva

Lord Vetinari

Found several of these larvae under some bark on a rotting tree trunk. Around 5mm body length.

5Dmk2/MPE-65/430Ex flash. Focus stacked using zerene

Brian V.

Cornflake

Interesting. They certainly look like future bugs.

Lord Vetinari

@Cornflake said:
Interesting. They certainly look like future bugs.

Thanks - I've had a couple of suggestions that they might be beetle larvae.

Brian v.

Lord Vetinari

Turns out they are the pupae of a biting midge.
Brian V.

GOLDENORFE

very interesting , so lavae must be like a maggot?

Lord Vetinari

@GOLDENORFE said:
very interesting , so lavae must be like a maggot?

Yes but they do have those spines which are tipped with some kind of deterrent gloop.

Brian V