CLOSED: Insect id

tijuana, Mexico

Northern Region of Baja, Mexico. It is about 2cm long. It is commonly found buried narrowly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0EC2M9wcLo

Thumbnail by tlatoanitzin Thumbnail by tlatoanitzin Thumbnail by tlatoanitzin
Minot, ND

Do you have any images that clearly show either the head or the underside of this specimen? Although resembling a caterpillar, there is a chance that it could be the larva of a soldier fly (family Stratiomyidae).

tijuana, Mexico

I don't have photos of the belly. This is of the head.

Thumbnail by tlatoanitzin Thumbnail by tlatoanitzin
Minot, ND

Doesn't look like a typical caterpillar head. See http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/image/0003/49278/stratiomyid_hbrc_42017_8-3-11_8xmontage_b_650.jpg for an image of a soldier fly larva; the arrow is pointing at its head.

tijuana, Mexico

Indeed, it does have two spikes in the head. I remembered that I had taken photos of the same species previously and other thing that was besides it. Now I realize it could be a pupa. The larva is similar to soldier fly but it is not chubby. The larva and the pupa were buried.

Thumbnail by tlatoanitzin Thumbnail by tlatoanitzin Thumbnail by tlatoanitzin Thumbnail by tlatoanitzin
Minot, ND

I am red-faced with chagrin. I just took another look at your last image, and can see that the 'spikes' actually are dark markings on a head capsule. Your mystery critter is a caterpillar after all, one in the family Noctuidae, and the other objects are pupae, possibly of the same species. My apologies for any confusion I may have caused.

tijuana, Mexico

Certainly the spikes-like markings are part of the eyes. I was starting to think it was a species of fly as you said previously. Don't worry, all type of information is always welcome. I thank you very much.

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
BACK TO TOP