Question of the month
June 2017
Why do some maggots look as if they have ‘tails’?

Question:

We found these strange-looking worms in a bucket of water where we were soaking palm fruits at our plant nursery. What are they and how did they get there?

Rat-tailed maggot of the Green Hoverfly (Austalis copiosa) seeking place to pupate.
Video courtesy of Colleen Foelz.

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