Showing posts with label fly larva. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fly larva. Show all posts

Wednesday, 25 June 2014

Bizarre parasite from the Jurassic had mouthparts for sucking blood

Date:
June 24, 2014

Source:
Universität Bonn

Summary:
Around 165 million years ago, a spectacular parasite was at home in the freshwater lakes of present-day Inner Mongolia (China): A fly larva with a thorax formed entirely like a sucking plate. With it, the animal could adhere to salamanders and suck their blood with its mouthparts formed like a sting. To date no insect is known that is equipped with a similar specialised design.


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