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What are these?

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 10:29 am
by kayoss
Hi All

A club member has found these maggot looking creatures living in the jap matting in his filters. Any ideas what they are and, more importantly, are they a risk to his koi?

They are about 10mm in length and, apart from the head, resemble normal fly maggots. They are obviously aquatic creatures because if taken out of the water they dry up and die. There is no sign of them in the pond, just the matting in his filters. The pond is not heated (at the moment, but can be if needed).

The koi all look fine - no flashing, head shaking, jumping or skittishness.

Does anyone know what they are please?

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Cheers

Bob

Re: What are these?

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 8:36 am
by Duncan
ive no idea bob would imagine good food for koi though

dunc

Re: What are these?

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 9:49 pm
by kayoss
Many thanks Dunc.

I thought they might just be a free source of protein but wasn't sure!

Cheers

Bob

Re: What are these?

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:16 am
by Duncan
I did an hour researching these yesterday can find nothing resembling these anywhere went to loads of entomology sites and nothing

you need some kind of entomologist

dunc

Re: What are these?

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:41 pm
by kayoss
Think I need to look up what an entomologist is first Dunc! :lol:

Many thanks for taking the time to research it for us.

Cheers

Bob

Re: What are these?

Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 11:54 pm
by Kevp
Could it be these

Re: What are these?

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 12:56 pm
by Duncan
look close well spotted don't know if they fit geographically speaking but I fond from what you supplied what I was calling horns and called spiracles
so we now have more to enter into the search engines
incidentally those spiracles are how they breath

well done
dunc

Re: What are these?

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 1:47 pm
by kayoss
Certainly look as though they could be. Unfortunately my pics were a bit over exposed so miss some of the detail shown on your find.

They were in the jap matting of the filter. This has been removed and allowed to dry out to get rid of the little blighters. If they return, I'll try to get some better photos.

Many thanks for the extra info.

Cheers

Bob