By Lesley McLaren
Following my blog earlier this month about Fire salamander larvae, I returned on the 23rd, wondering if I could spot any different salamander or newt species.
After waiting for some time, I only saw two larvae that had legs, both of which were the Fire species. But while scanning the pool bed, something else caught my eye: a moving twig construction vaguely reminiscent of hermit crabs, but more closely resembling the bagworm moth caterpillars I blogged about in October 2016.
It was of course a caddisfly larva. I understand this is a sign that the water is unpolluted - something I'd expect here, to be honest.
Following my blog earlier this month about Fire salamander larvae, I returned on the 23rd, wondering if I could spot any different salamander or newt species.
After waiting for some time, I only saw two larvae that had legs, both of which were the Fire species. But while scanning the pool bed, something else caught my eye: a moving twig construction vaguely reminiscent of hermit crabs, but more closely resembling the bagworm moth caterpillars I blogged about in October 2016.
It was of course a caddisfly larva. I understand this is a sign that the water is unpolluted - something I'd expect here, to be honest.
Caddisfly Larva from Lesley McLaren on Vimeo.
Now that my attention was drawn to an area of the pool only just getting warmed by the sun, I spotted a frog tadpole snacking, which made me turn the camera to record again. I simply can't resist filming these - there's something about their roundness that makes me laugh.
It was only on playing the clip back that I noticed another caddisfly larva, below right, heaving its log-like house all over the place - and there appears to be at least one more moving around in dead leaves, above left! The naked eye simply misses all of this activity.
It was only on playing the clip back that I noticed another caddisfly larva, below right, heaving its log-like house all over the place - and there appears to be at least one more moving around in dead leaves, above left! The naked eye simply misses all of this activity.
I was disappointed not to see more salamander larvae - and no evidence of any adult frogs. But that might partly have been on account of my dog paddling to cool off while he waited for me. And I can't really blame him.
David meets Goliath
By and large, insects were proving more interesting and entertaining that day. Like the backswimmer in the following clip. It starts off right-side up - roughly in the centre of the picture and stationary for a while, before suddenly flipping over and swimming away. Extraordinary camouflage!
Backswimmer Beetle from Lesley McLaren on Vimeo.
A few days later, the salamander larvae were more active - or more visible to me at any rate. I was hoping to film one "sinking" vertically after surfacing. I didn't catch that, but towards the end of the next clip, one does demonstrate how they are prone to "let go" and sink - albeit horizontally in this instance. Could it be that the behaviour develops as their tails become less fish-like and therefore less effective for swimming?
Salamander larva sinking from Lesley McLaren on Vimeo.
Finally, at the risk of video overload, here are three toad tadpoles feeding - but as they continue to drift with the floating leaf, note the argy-bargy going on to the right. Are toad and frog tadpoles scrapping over plant matter or is a more violent attack in progress?
Tadpoles Feeding from Lesley McLaren on Vimeo.
Who knows what was going on there, but there's no denying the pool is still full of life. Long may it continue.
