I was cleaning my turtle tank today and noticed a large amount of these strange insects hanging around the stones at the bottom of my tank and the surface of the water. It swims/moves by sort-of folding over itself very quickly. I've never seen anything like this and I've never had insects in my tank before. I'd love to know what it is and how it could have gotten into the tank.
In the photo, he top half is a reflection. The insects are about 5mm long
This is a larva of a culicine mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae); it breathes through the 'tube' at the end of its abdomen. In your image, it is hanging head downwards.
Thanks a ton for the quick reply. Would a full water change get rid of these? Is there a reason why they hang around the water surface upside down?
Upside down to breath obviously, silly question.
A full water change would indeed get rid of them, but you may have to do this on a periodic basis as female mosquitoes of this type usually lay their eggs on or just above the water surface.
