Tiny water creatures for ID if poss'

goosey · #1 (**permalink**) 12-02-2008, 08:59 PM

These were seen in my butterfly puddle in March 2007 (a man made puddle in a plant saucer with soil, sand and a couple of stones big enough to stand a little way out of the water. It is meant to be a drinking place for butterflies and provide minerals that they need in dry weather – not that I have ever seen any land on a stone and drink from it! It is only 22cm in diameter and is 4cm deep but is amazing the amount of creatures this sustains. It can become very waterlogged but I never let it dry out.)

This looks very shrimp-ish, I have no idea what it is though it was tiny only a few millimeters and there were at least 6 of these.

I saw these things poking out the water during the day and thought it was a water worm. Then one night I saw one actually crawl out of the water on to a stone with lots legs it was about 15-20mm.

paul m · #2 (**permalink**) 13-02-2008, 08:29 AM

The first are 'bloodworms' larvae or (the hairy bit) pupae of chironomid flies. They are characterised by having a form of haemoglobin (like vertebrates) which allows them to extract oxygen from deep, poorly oxygenated water. I don't think any other insects do this. Laurence may be able to tell you more.

The second picture seems to be a millipede (Diplopoda) - don't know what it was doing in the water!

goosey · #3 (**permalink**) 13-02-2008, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul m

The first are 'bloodworms' larvae or (the hairy bit) pupae of chironomid flies. They are characterised by having a form of haemoglobin (like vertebrates) which allows them to extract oxygen from deep, poorly oxygenated water. I don't think any other insects do this. Laurence may be able to tell you more.

The second picture seems to be a millipede (Diplopoda) - don't know what it was doing in the water!

Thanks Paul, Here is a picture of the "Millipede", I couldn't put it on with the thread as the only copy I have is the website copy which is too small to upload - but you can see they are quite at home in the water. Actually I can't see any legs in this picture - perhaps it only has legs at the front end?
http://www.mywildlifefriendlygarden....y%20puddle.jpg
If it's of any use.

paul m · #4 (**permalink**) 29-02-2008, 03:28 PM

You commonly can't see millipede legs when an active animal is viewed from above. This surely must be a millipede.
I've still not seen any information about them foraging underwater .... have to ask an expert ....

Quote:

Originally Posted by goosey

.......... Actually I can't see any legs in this picture - perhaps it only has legs at the front end?
http://www.mywildlifefriendlygarden....y%20puddle.jpg
If it's of any use.

ozwildlife · #5 (**permalink**) 29-02-2008, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul m

I've still not seen any information about them foraging underwater .... ....

Apperently there are some aquatic or semi-aquatic millipedes in Australia, so you may well have them in Europe too. I've never seen any, but found mention of them on Queen Victoria Museum of Tasmania web site ...

Tasmanian Millipedes
Australian Millipedes