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Alderfly Larva
A fearsome predator, feeding on other bugs, they
are nicknamed 'toebiters'.
What they look like:
Alderfly larvae look like caterpillars and can be red-brownish in colour. They have external gills along both sides of the top of their abdomen, three pairs of legs on the middle section of their body and a straight, single feathery tail. Each leg has tiny pincers at the end.
Size:
Up to 20 mm long.
Where they live:
Alderfly larvae can be found on the bottom of clear, cool slow-flowing freshwater streams. They prefer to live in the mud or under stones.
What they eat:
Alderfly larvae are active predators of other water bugs and have strong jaws (mandibles), which they use to grasp their prey.
Pollution tolerance: Sensitive, rating 8.
Alderfly larvae are sensitive to low levels of oxygen in the water, preferring cool water as it holds more oxygen when saturated than does warm water. |
What’s interesting about
the Alderfly Larva? |
