Aquatic Invertebrates – Fly larvae

Adult Hoverfly Eristalis Pertinax.
Photograph:  Giles King-Slater

Crane-fly larva Tipulidae
A few species of cranefly have fully aquatic larvae that can be found in shallow, well-vegetated water. In this photo it is surrounded by several blackfly (biting midge) larvae. Blackfly  larvae are associated with fast flowing, well-oxygenated water and are rarely found in ponds.

Bloodwort larva
Bloodworms are aquatic larva of non-biting midges.
The red colour comes from haemoglobin, which allows them to cope with low levels of oxygen in the water.