#larvae

#larvae

Mosquito Larva Catches Prey by Launching Its Head like a Tiny HarpoonWho knew that even at such an early stage in their lives, these insects are already killing it (quite literally).In research that spanned over a decade, scientists have finally published their findings on how mosquito larvae actually get their prey for nourishment. It turns out that these baby insects react with lightning speed. As published in the journal Annals of the Entomological Society of America, the researchers showed that two species of mosquitos, namely, Toxorhynchites amboinensis and Psorophora ciliata display unique mannerisms when it comes to hunting their prey. The larvae of these insects can launch their heads to snap up a meal in just 15 milliseconds. This was found through high-speed film footage obtained by the researchers. According to lead study author Robert Hancock, it was all just a blur to them. "We all saw a blur; then we saw a captured larva being shoveled into the mouth of a predator. That's all we saw," he said.Image credit: Hancock et.al#research #insects #science #biology #larvae #mosquitos

14 New Species of Shrimp Larvae Found 3,000 Feet Underwater in the Deepest Part of the Gulf of MexicoLiving deep under the waters of the Gulf of Mexico are some of the weirdest creatures on the planet. Upon first contact, one would think that these were some kind of alien species that happened to be on Earth. However, Heather Bracken-Grissom, one of the marine scientists behind this study, states that these are just shrimp and lobster larvae.These shrimp larvae look like little creatures with armor-like horns, misshapen torsos, and some with spikes protruding from their sides.With the use of deep-sea forensics, Bracken-Grissom and Ph.D. candidate Carlos Varela identified the 14 species of the larvae based on their known adult counterparts. They conducted genetic tests for identification and connected dots on their evolution family tree. Shrimps go through multiple larval stages. Only a handful of data of larval forms of shrimps are known to scientists. Most larvae are found in the mesopelagic zone, open water between 200-1,000 meters, and settle in deep waters when they become adults. A variety of life stages of the shrimp are still unknown. There are still mysteries of biodiversity that encourage the research team to keep on searching. All Images: Danté Fenolio #Shrimps #Larvae #Biodiversity #ScienceandTechnology

The Ten Scariest Creatures Seen Through MicroscopesThe world is full of living creatures we can't see. They outnumber us, and they can be terrifying. The reason we can't see them is because they are too small, and that's a blessing, because many of them would give us unending nightmares. Getting a look at them from a view through a microscope may be upsetting, but this is nature. If they could see us, they might be frightened as well. The creature shown at the top is a hydrothermal vent worm, ranked at #9, so you can imagine the horror that ranked above it. However, most are not all that ugly. They are included due to their danger to us, which may give you a case of the squicks, especially #2. -viaBoing Boing View the full list in the video clip below#microscope #insects #parasites #microscopicanimals #flea #glassworm #hookworm #mosquito #larvae