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Parasite escaping a mosquito larva

39 points · submitted Oct 2024 by u/failuretonotice · Photo/Video Share

https://reddit.com/link/1gdzmh9/video/eeazgsoqehxd1/player

Found a mosquito larva in some pondwater. On closer inspection there was a parasite in there! It was about 3 times the length of the larva itself. The parasite notices that the larva is in danger/dying and tries to escape.I sped up some parts since the whole process took about 20 minutes.

I think the species of mosquito larva is Dicrotendipes lobiger (non-biting midge). The parasite I have no idea of.

  • Olympus CHC
  • Custom illuminator
  • Darkfield
  • 2x magnification
  • HAYEAR HY-500B eyepiece camera

* last caption states 10x speed which should be 1x *

12 comments · 100% upvoted · other discussions

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Hohmann_Transfer 7 points · Oct 2024

Amazing footage!

failuretonotice [OP] 3 points · Oct 2024

Thanks!

Exhale_Skyline 7 points · Oct 2024

Post it on r/Parasitology too

James_Weiss 6 points · Oct 2024 · Master Of Microscopes

Damn! This is crazy! Very good capture!! 😱👏

failuretonotice [OP] 3 points · Oct 2024

Thanks! Do you perhaps have an idea what was coming out of the larva after the parasite exits?

Bryozoa 3 points · Oct 2024

Probably a fat body tissue of the larva. I think the nematode was inside the body cavity, not in the digestive tract.

failuretonotice [OP] 3 points · Oct 2024

Makes sense. So the nematode really punched its way out. Ouch

DaveLatt 5 points · Oct 2024

It looks like nematode somehow got itself inside of a midge larva! Good quality on the vid! 👍🏾👌🏾

Any_Degree893 2 points · Oct 2024

Damn, how I wish there was a sound track to go with this!

Then again… maybe not.

tino-latino 2 points · Oct 2024

What are the blue thingies?

failuretonotice [OP] 3 points · Oct 2024

Ik think some kind of vorticella. I;ve seen them a lot attached to larger organisms

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