Crazy pond insect!?!

[ExPeNsIvE HoBbY]

So I was digging sludge out of my pond filter and felt crazy movement in my hand. These are what I found... About 1" long and half an inch wide.

So what are these things, anyone know?

 

[JC_P]

Some sort of insect larvae?!

 

[LArifleMAN]

dragonfly larva

 

[JC_P]

dragonfly larva

Aren't they a little too stocky to be dragonfly nymphs?

 

[ExPeNsIvE HoBbY]

Wow, this is why I love MFK, responses so quick.

Btw, they were completely aquatic. I found them under the filter mat in my pond filter.

 

[COG Commando]

dragonfly larva

Definitely.

 

[BlackShark11k]

dragonfly larva

yeah, dragonfly nymph

 

[VegasSurfer]

those are crazy looking!

 

[m1ste2tea]

those are dragonfly larvae

 

[andyjs]

Yep, dragonflies. They come in a variety of shapes since there are many species, but they all look pretty close to this. Check out the mouth parts. They are like something straight out of Alien. They actually extend them an impressive distance to capture prey