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melvynyeo β€” Unknown Larva

Published: 2014-05-29 12:45:25 +0000 UTC; Views: 3041; Favourites: 134; Downloads: 60
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Description 5mm Taken in Singapore.

Quote from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beetle
Beetles are members of the superorder Endopterygota, and accordingly most of them undergo complete metamorphosis. The typical form of metamorphosis in beetles passes through four main stages: the egg, the larva, the pupa, and the imago or adult. The larvae are commonly called grubs and the pupa sometimes is called the chrysalis. In some species, the pupa may be enclosed in a cocoon constructed by the larva towards the end of its final instar. Going beyond "complete metamorphosis", however, some beetles, such as typical members of the families Meloidae and Rhipiphoridae, undergo hypermetamorphosis in which the first instar takes the form of a triungulin.

The larva is usually the principal feeding stage of the beetle lifecycle. Larvae tend to feed voraciously once they emerge from their eggs. Some feed externally on plants, such as those of certain leaf beetles, while others feed within their food sources. Examples of internal feeders are most Buprestidae and longhorn beetles. The larvae of many beetle families are predatory like the adults (ground beetles, ladybirds, rove beetles). The larval period varies between species, but can be as long as several years. The larvae are highly varied amongst species, with well-developed and sclerotized heads, and have distinguishable thoracic and abdominal segments (usually the tenth, though sometimes the eighth or ninth).[7]

Beetle larvae can be differentiated from other insect larvae by their hardened, often darkened heads, the presence of chewing mouthparts, and spiracles along the sides of their bodies. Like adult beetles, the larvae are varied in appearance, particularly between beetle families. Beetles whose larvae are somewhat flattened and are highly mobile are the ground beetles, some rove beetles, and others; their larvae are described as campodeiform. Some beetle larvae resemble hardened worms with dark head capsules and minute legs. These are elateriform larvae, and are found in the click beetle (Elateridae) and darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae) families. Some elateriform larvae of click beetles are known as wireworms. Beetles in the families of the Scarabaeoidea have short, thick larvae described as scarabaeiform, but more commonly known as grubs.

All beetle larvae go through several instars, which are the developmental stages between each moult. In many species, the larvae simply increase in size with each successive instar as more food is consumed. In some cases, however, more dramatic changes occur. Among certain beetle families or genera, particularly those that exhibit parasitic lifestyles, the first instar (the planidium) is highly mobile to search out a host, while the following instars are more sedentary and remain on or within their host. This is known as hypermetamorphosis; examples include the blister beetles (family Meloidae) and some rove beetles, particularly those of the genus Aleochara.
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Comments: 7

LindArtz [2024-01-10 23:22:39 +0000 UTC]

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PonchoAlarcon [2015-02-08 23:38:21 +0000 UTC]

Have you ever seen an hallucigenia drawing?! WOW!...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucig…

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Raptrax101 [2014-06-10 01:36:35 +0000 UTC]

YOU MIGHT HAVE FOUND A NEW SPECIIIIIIEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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TheMckeown [2014-05-30 00:55:54 +0000 UTC]

That is wicked sweet!

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StellarReaches [2014-05-29 23:30:15 +0000 UTC]

A very nice shot here - good colour contrast!

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Zippo4k [2014-05-29 16:24:31 +0000 UTC]

It's a beetle larvae of some kind (no prolegs and the arrangement of the ocelli and position and structure of the antennae show this to not be a lepidopteran caterpillar, and these features also suggest this isn't a neupteran). Short of that, I'm not reeeeally sure. It might be a chrysomelid or an endomychid, but I can't say with any confidence.

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RaymondEternal [2014-05-29 13:02:43 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful Shot Β , it look likes an Aphid to me

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