Here is a photo of one of the many flower fly larvae we saw on the forest floor.
I suspect these flower fly larvae may have made their way to the ground in preparation of pupating. The flower fly larvae were 'crawling' on fallen twigs and leaves in their unique way. Also, they have this habit of swinging their front half around like an elephant's trunk.
Here is a video of a flower fly larva as it 'crawls' along.
Some flower fly larvae are know as 'aphid killers'.
The ones we encountered there in the woods were obviously predatory larvae, since I noticed that some of them were preying on Giant Aphids.
About the larvae, one boy said, "They are not exactly maggo-nificent", but since it seems we are surrounded by maggots, we might as well take note of some of them...
I think I'd rather be surrounded by hover flies.
Fascinating locomotion Dana. They rear up and then do that ripple thing from the rear. Never heard of a Giant Aphid.
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