[FYI] Movement Of Fungus Gnat Larvae
The post is to make you aware about the movement of fungus gnat larvae. Please find more details about it in this article.
Post Information:
Below post has been circulating on social media.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1155554641062633472
Verification: These are thousands and thousands of fungus gnat larvae moving together
Selfish herd theory by W.D.Hamilton tells how and why this movement works for these organisms.
After looking closely, it was revealed that it wasn’t a wig but thousands and thousands of fungus gnat larvae moving together.Fungus gnat larvae feed on fungi and decaying plant material. The larvae get together as a defense mechanism to ward off predators.Their body composition allows the larvae to slip against one another and move together. While they do leave a trail of their fluid, no larvae gets left behind.It is thought the insects travel en masse to deter predators, and those on the inside are the dominant members of the group being shielded by the lesser members. Research has revealed a variety of factors that may influence chosen movement.
These factors include initial spatial position,population density, attack strategy of the predator,and vigilance.Individuals holding initially central positions are more likely to be successful at remaining in the center. Simpler movement strategies may be sufficient for low density populations and fast-acting predators, but at higher densities and with slower predators, more complex strategies may be needed.Lastly, less vigilant members of a herd are often less likely to obtain smaller domains of danger as they begin movement later.
Check out few videos that will clear it further: Read more
https://www.facebook.com/100003347334274/videos/1312771832177715/
AN ACCOUNT OF A MIGRATING ARMY OF FUNGUS GNAT LARVAE
Charles Brues of Harvard University, wrote an account of this strange sight over 50 years ago.He wrote: ‘On the morning of June 15, 1949 we witnessed a mass migration of fungus-gnat larvae in the rainforest zone of Negros Island – an island in the Philippines – at an altitude of about 4,000ft (1,200 metres).
‘Close to a temporary shelter in which we were housed, my wife noticed a strange crawling object moving over the wet, muddy soil.
‘Closer examination at once disclosed that this was an irregular, band-like mass of small dipterous maggots.’ He identified them as Heerwiirmer or snake-worms.
‘…The mass of larvae was moving slowly in a very irregular band about a foot in length, less than an inch in width and layered to a depth of about half an inch.
‘As has been described in some previously observed cases, the individual larvae were moving on the slimy bodies of their fellows so that progression is accomplished by the forward motion of those on the top, while those at the rear, as they are uncovered, move with a sort of superficial, belt-like, rolling motion over the cramped individuals in the lower layers.
‘Thus, the mass moves onward, but the larvae are continually changing position with reference to one another.’
Post Date: 31 July 2019
Post ID: #73275
