Rat Tailed Maggot Underwater

Video credit: Austrian Broadcasting Corporation

Rat tailed maggots are the larval form of some species of hoverfly, which can be terrestrial or aquatic. They start out life as a blob with a breathing tube, later dragging themselves onto land to pupate and turn into certain flies. Rat tailed maggots enjoy feeding on decaying organic matter which is why you’ll often find them in dank ponds and rotting trees, as well as anywhere there’s an open source of feces (including, one time, Glastonbury Festival).

They have a long breathing tube called a siphon attached to their rear end which is why some entomologists affectionately refer to them as “bum breathers”. They bulk up in their larval, rat tailed maggot form before pupating in soil or other dry material and emerging as several species of hoverfly.

You might think the rat tailed maggot is a little ugly, but they are champions for the environment both in their larval and adult forms. As rat tailed maggots, they encourage the turnover of nutrients by eating decaying matter and pooping it out again. They also predate on common plant pests such as aphids.

As adults, they’re hugely important pollinators which facilitate gene flow across isolate plant populations as they are big travelers. So, if you see a rat tailed maggot, do your bit by simply letting it do its thing.

[AstronomyGuru]

Today I learned about a new organism. Never heard of these before.

[CherylMotherofSeven]

Super Cool video! I love Hover Flies they are fascinating! Thank you!

[yukinagato]

Such cool little juveniles. Little water mice haha

[forester-bk]

Very interesting, why have I never heard of these things?

[Koro-idk]

There’s only 3 comments but I already love this comment section more than any other I have ever seen because I love rat tailed maggots

[dheokristianto]

I think I ever found this creature when I was child

[Luna-iimx]

I just found 1 of these in my frog pond and got freaked out but they are actually kind of cool :o it has natural scuba dive equippment. I just hope it doesnt eat my tadpoles

[캉가와]

This kind of a maggot it very Interesting

[goodandbadgames]

Imagine getting reincarnated as one of these:

[funnttwunfnfdwswf]

It’s safe to touch but don’t put it on a damaged skin bc they will try to eat if if it’s new but if it’s dry it can’t eat it and yes the insect looks digsutijg