CLOSED: much bigger than mosquito larvae and looks like dark shrimp

Rockport, TX(Zone 9a)

I forgot about a pot in the garden that needed holes drilled in it. I'm embarrassed to say that it was full of water and breeding mosquitoes. I went to dump it out and discovered these guys. They are about a half inch long and maybe a quarter inch wide and look like dark shrimp. They have a fin on their tail like a shrimp or a lobster. I saved five of them before dumping everything out. I'll probably dump them in one of my ponds. If I dump them in the koi pond, they'll be eaten for sure. If I dump them in the dragonfly larvae pond, maybe they'll live, so let me know what you know, so I can decide their fate!

This guy looks like he's out of the water but he's actually at the bottom of this big jar.

Thumbnail by Elphaba
Rockport, TX(Zone 9a)

Here's one at the surface. The jar bends here, so that affects the picture.

Thumbnail by Elphaba
Rockport, TX(Zone 9a)

One more from the top.

Thumbnail by Elphaba
Rockport, TX(Zone 9a)

Woops, got the width wrong. They're a little less than 1/8" wide.

Sinks Grove, WV

this is a pupa of a mosquito, commonly called a 'tumbler' because of its swimming action when disturbed. When it has completed development, the adult usually will step out of the pupal 'skin' on to the water surface before taking flight; see http://www.dpughphoto.com/images/mosquito%20emerging%20durham%2090806%201.JPG for an image.

Rockport, TX(Zone 9a)

Wow, I guess I'd never seen them at that stage before. I guess they're getting fed to the koi! Thanks!

Santa Teresa, Venezuela

It's a mosquito pupa, commonly called "tumbler".
http://mosqpro.com/mosquito_biology.php
Mosquito pupae are very actives, so it's not easy recognize like that. I suggest you feed your koi with them, or, if you want to observe metamorphosis, cover the jat with metallic cloth for don't scape mosquitoes

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