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Wildlife Spotting

Photo by SethE.Seth
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Hello Project Noah members, I'm new here so I hope this all works well .. :-).
I have found some larvae and pupa in the soil I used to grow strawberry in until last week. I wondered if this is from a beetle related to strawberries, say a strawberrybeetle ( Anthonomus rubi? ). or is it something entirely else?? These are approx 4 to 5 mm length. Would be very pleased and gratefull for your help in defining these ... Thanks in advance, Best regards, Seth.

Habitat:

Soil under strawberry plants.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (9)
SethE.Seth
Well amazing, thank you very much, I'm very pleased with your answer ... I'll have to do some more photography on these then, I have already isolated a few of them from the flower container with some soil so I will be able to follow the development and final appearence. Let's hope they'll hatch (?) ... to be continued :-). I'll take a look at the False Darkling Beetle first thing tomorrow, signing off for now, thank you very much !
ForestDragon
Seth, I am fairly sure this is a beetle larva and pupa. There is a good chance that they are of the same species but I can't say for sure. It is possible that they could be different species. If you can keep them until they hatch (at least the pupa), it would help with an ID. I have been browsing local beetle references but there aren't a lot of images of the larvae and pupae that are identified. They looks similar to False Darkling Beetles, Family Melandryidae, but that is totally a guess. That's about all I have at this time.
SethE.Seth
I just wondered, could it be that these are two different species? The pupa does have likeness with a bee like insect while the other one .... ?
SethE.Seth
Hihi, yes, amazing creatures, colours and beautiful pictures!
Debbie Stewart
haha, it is very easy to lose a day or two sitting on here watching all the new spottings coming through! it is very addictive but has a great community.
SethE.Seth
Oh I'm patient :-) .... thank you. If I can stare at one bug for an hour in my little roofgarden it will take me several days before I have finished looking at all the beautiful pictures here :-), and more. Your most kind, thank you !
Debbie Stewart
With this being a global site people are on at all times of the day depending on where they live etc but they won't have forgotten about you it just sometimes takes a while for the right expert to come on line and find the spotting you posted :-)
SethE.Seth
Hi Debbie, thank you, I'll keep my fingers crossed .... and the larvae isolated, inspite of them being quite nicely shaped with all the little details that show like wings etc. :-).
Debbie Stewart
Hi Seth, I'm sure that one of the bug experts on here will be able to help you identify this soon :_)
Photographed
PublishedMay 1, 2013

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