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GEH4EVR
06-01-2006, 01:45 PM
I was out in my garden today, and I saw a thing swimming in one of my ponds, I fished it out with a net after about 3 tries, I put it in a glass and tried to think what it could be, I realized it was an insect due to the fact that it had 6 legs, however I don't know what type.

Could someone please try to tell me?

Location:Northern France

Pond type: Freshwater,still.

length: Roughly 1".

Photos:


*NOTE*
in the left image, the head is on the left, and in the right image the head is on the right
shrinkingman
06-01-2006, 02:25 PM
Looks like some kind of freshwater shrimp, therefore a crustacean rather than an insect.
GEH4EVR
06-01-2006, 02:42 PM
But it has SIX legs, so it isn't a shrimp.
shrinkingman
06-01-2006, 04:32 PM
Then it's some kind of larva or nymph. Don't know if this helps but here's a link to some examples:

http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/pondexplorer/key2.html

Edit: I think I've found it, looks like it could be a whirligig beetle - http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/educate/pondpack/beetles.htm
Gandolf
06-01-2006, 04:41 PM
It looks a lot like a MayFly. I have attached a couple of pics.
BradG7
06-01-2006, 08:54 PM
To help, we know the facts, it's from the Phylum Arthropoda, and is segmented, from the photos I can say it's not a fishfly/catusfly/mayfly, because they either have wings, or die within 10 minutes from neural shock ;)
Don't ask how I know this, I just listen to lectures at the college a lot :slant:
ChuchoMexico
06-02-2006, 09:17 PM
To help, we know the facts, it's from the Phylum Arthropoda, and is segmented, from the photos I can say it's not a fishfly/catusfly/mayfly, because they either have wings, or die within 10 minutes from neural shock ;)
Don't ask how I know this, I just listen to lectures at the college a lot :slant:

Sorry, but a friend who is a biologist says it may be a mayfly.
Here is a page about it:
http://www.umd.umich.edu/dept/na/aquatic_insecta/Ephemeroptera/ephemeroptera_order.htm
Go to the upper level where there is more info about the uniqueness of this insect. :cool:
BradG7
06-03-2006, 02:39 PM
It appears you are right, I'm used to the kind found around the Great Lakes region, the ones that smell like dead fish! ;)
However, the description could fit any insect that is short lived, and the pictures do not match up at all :whoa:
GEH4EVR
06-03-2006, 03:06 PM
I found out what it is!

It's a Great Diving Beetle Larvae, I posted on a Wildlife forum and they came back to me very soon.