Lil Stinkpot
Lucky Greenhorn
I found an interesting critter today. I won't say from who I got it, just in case it's a pest. I doubt it, though.
Alas, it is effectively microscopic, and I cannot take a picture of it; I haven't the necessary tools. (I wish I did!)
I tried to look it up, but Google just brought up aphids on exposed water lilies, mayflies, and caddie bugs. Nothing that matches mine.
I found it clinging to the stem of an aquatic CP, when I took a sprig to work to ogle under the microscope. At 20x, I can see all the trigger hairs, spines, floats, other neat things. The bug looks almost exactly like a brown, armored, thick-shelled aphid, complete with a sucking proboscis. It was quite at home in the water, and even found the time to molt once. If I can get it to hold still long enough, and if my calipers don't scare it off, I can measure it later. For now... It is between .020" and .030", about the size of a Utric. trap. I hope it doesn't get eaten by what else is in there, big enough to eat it for sure.
If I have missed any details that may be helpful, ask. I remember it's image well.
Alas, it is effectively microscopic, and I cannot take a picture of it; I haven't the necessary tools. (I wish I did!)
I tried to look it up, but Google just brought up aphids on exposed water lilies, mayflies, and caddie bugs. Nothing that matches mine.
I found it clinging to the stem of an aquatic CP, when I took a sprig to work to ogle under the microscope. At 20x, I can see all the trigger hairs, spines, floats, other neat things. The bug looks almost exactly like a brown, armored, thick-shelled aphid, complete with a sucking proboscis. It was quite at home in the water, and even found the time to molt once. If I can get it to hold still long enough, and if my calipers don't scare it off, I can measure it later. For now... It is between .020" and .030", about the size of a Utric. trap. I hope it doesn't get eaten by what else is in there, big enough to eat it for sure.
If I have missed any details that may be helpful, ask. I remember it's image well.