What worm is this? (picture included)

[hdarius]

Just caught 2 of these worms in my tank, what are they? Not white and its head seems to have 2 tiny pincers like a termite. Anyone can ID them? Thanks

[stormhawk]

Probably Black Fly larva. Refer to this thread for a picture for you to fully compare with:

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=34333

One of ranmasatome's posts has a picture of this particular larva.

[hdarius]

Thanks for the link. I guess its a Black Fly Larva like you said. Did some search on google and found that the female fly inflicts a painful bite, sucking the blood of birds and mammals, including humans. I better kill them when i see them in my tank before they develop into adults and fly around in my room.

Thanks stormhawk for identifying it.

[stormhawk]

You're welcome. Now I'm starting to get paranoid for my 2ft breeding tank. It's uncovered.

[hdarius]

Haha. I have a feeling that they were hidden in the wool that my HC was attached to because after i bought them then i discovered them in my tank.

Hmm but further research shows that Black Flies affect the US and Canadian region. Not sure about our region. Maybe its part of the Black Fly family. Nonetheless I will keep a lookout for them and if it makes you feel better my tanks not covered too.

[stormhawk]

Yup they probably came along in that rock wool. Many times I found weird animals, mostly worms and snails in the rock wool that came with my plants. So now I remove all the rock wool I can, and physically check the plant for anything else that might be on the leaves, like snail egg packets.

That larva could possibly be fungus gnat larva instead.