Prime Suspect, Pt. 2 - _TNY_2549
Sometimes identifying animals is difficult, but sometimes you catch a break and it becomes much easier.
Here is one of many greyish, almost chalky larvae which I found on some flowers at my mother's summer house.
Sounds like a difficult ID, but first we can see notice the distinct head shape with small round eyes on the side which tells us it is a larvae of a sawfly.
Then we consider the host plant which in this case is the yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia punctata) and the location (Sweden) which narrows it down to just one species - the loosestrife sawfly (Monostegia abdominalis).
There is actually a very similar species (though not found in Sweden yet) which could have fit the bill, M. nigra - but that one lacks the black spot on the head which this one has.
Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/49610477721/
Prime Suspect, Pt. 2 - _TNY_2549
Sometimes identifying animals is difficult, but sometimes you catch a break and it becomes much easier.
Here is one of many greyish, almost chalky larvae which I found on some flowers at my mother's summer house.
Sounds like a difficult ID, but first we can see notice the distinct head shape with small round eyes on the side which tells us it is a larvae of a sawfly.
Then we consider the host plant which in this case is the yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia punctata) and the location (Sweden) which narrows it down to just one species - the loosestrife sawfly (Monostegia abdominalis).
There is actually a very similar species (though not found in Sweden yet) which could have fit the bill, M. nigra - but that one lacks the black spot on the head which this one has.
Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/49610477721/