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On a collecting trip
Jul 1, 2019 20:44:31   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
To a favorite stream.
Was a good day. I got about a key or more of gravel and a nice bunch of grass for my aquarium. And, what I believe is a 'Horsehair' worm.
These are internal parasites of many insects, including Giant Water Bugs. It is .5 mm andover 100 mm long.
A first for me.
Shot at .5x and 1x
Photos leave a lot to be desired.
Reposts later, long day.
Bill
Also known as a Gordian worm.


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Jul 2, 2019 10:35:42   #
Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI
 
This is a 'blood worm', perhaps more than one as they tend to tangle together. Blood worms are in the same group as earthworms, as they are segmented. They are a very favored form of live fish food.
I remember finding horsehair worms in a lake while camping. Very, very strange creatures.

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Jul 2, 2019 10:47:10   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
This is a 'blood worm', perhaps more than one as they tend to tangle together. Blood worms are in the same group as earthworms, as they are segmented. They are a very favored form of live fish food.
I remember finding horsehair worms in a lake while camping. Very, very strange creatures.


Thank you.
That is one worm. It is 5 or 6 inches long. I have a Blue Spotted Sunfish about 2.5 inches, it loved the worm.
Bill

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Jul 2, 2019 12:31:32   #
napabob Loc: Napa CA
 
a lovely knot maker..........

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Jul 2, 2019 12:49:39   #
EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England
 
Yuk, I don't like worms like that but lucky for your Sunfish. My little fish are enjoying mosquito larvae at the moment.

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Jul 2, 2019 13:32:09   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
EnglishBrenda wrote:
Yuk, I don't like worms like that but lucky for your Sunfish. My little fish are enjoying mosquito larvae at the moment.


Do your fish look like drab guppies? I have Gambusia afinis.
This is a live-bearer. You can see the modification in the male anal fin.
It is to internally enseminate, rare in fish.
That is also what is keeping the mosquitoes down at the restoration.
These work. Few Wiggler's in water. Dragonflies get the adults.
I get relief of bites.
Bill

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Jul 2, 2019 13:36:27   #
EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England
 
newtoyou wrote:
Do your fish look like drab guppies? I have Gambusia afinis.
This is a live-bearer. You can see the modification in the male anal fin.
It is to internally enseminate, rare in fish.
That is also what is keeping the mosquitoes down at the restoration.
These work. Few Wiggler's in water. Dragonflies get the adults.
I get relief of bites.
Bill


I have only 3 pretty Plattys and one small catfish who hides behind a plant. I have collected mosquito larvae from our wildlife pond, washed them and added them to my tank which is only 50 litres. The fish go mad for them.

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Jul 2, 2019 13:52:57   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
EnglishBrenda wrote:
I have only 3 pretty Plattys and one small catfish who hides behind a plant. I have collected mosquito larvae from our wildlife pond, washed them and added them to my tank which is only 50 litres. The fish go mad for them.


They are easily collected. A few tin cans half full of water and a pinch of grass thatch set out in the garden. The mosquitoes produce a few hundred larva in one can every two weeks or so.
Very prolific.
Bill

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Jul 2, 2019 14:22:01   #
EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England
 
newtoyou wrote:
They are easily collected. A few tin cans half full of water and a pinch of grass thatch set out in the garden. The mosquitoes produce a few hundred larva in one can every two weeks or so.
Very prolific.
Bill


We don't seem to have so many here, I haven't been bitten once in about 4 years so I am gathering and feeding them to the fish while I can. I also add some to the fish pond as the fish in there clear up their own rations before I even see them.

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Sep 1, 2019 23:37:19   #
BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan
 
Somehow, deliberately breeding mosquitos when we live 200 feet away or so from swampland doesn't seem necessary. Not to mention enticing the West Nile carriers closer to the house! I'll stick to worms, meal or earth types.

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