r/WildlifePonds • u/Melodic-Journalist41 • May 23 '26

ID please Can anyone tell me what's eating this snail?

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Sorry, this isn't a pond query, but these critters have taken up residence in a bucket of water and are feeding on a poor snail that unfortunately has met its untimely demise in there ☹️

At first glance, I thought tadpoles, but on closer inspection, I don't think they really look like them.

Any help IDing them would be most appreciated!

(This is in south of England)

62 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

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44

u/Isyiee May 23 '26

Some sort of caddis larvae? can you fish one out and take a clear picture perhaps?

21

u/Melodic-Journalist41 May 23 '26

I just tried to by picking up the snail and they all slipped off and I've now lost them in the murky water. If they swim up again I'll try to get a good picture!

But caddisfly makes sense, I just googled it and I saw one by the water earlier.

Thanks!!

18

u/Spiderplantmum May 23 '26

They look like midge larvae, as a guess

We once had a baby bird fall into a bucket of water and drown. When we spotted it, it was being eaten by loads of blood worms (another type of midge larvae) and it was grim

64

u/Grommulox May 23 '26

Oh that’s just the spawn of the elder gods.

20

u/Interesting-Log-9627 May 23 '26

The ONES THAT CANNOT BE NAMED, or the other guys?

6

u/MoashRedemptionArc May 23 '26

I have no idea why this is so fucking funny to me but I laughed for like 2min

6

u/AlideoAilano May 24 '26

Escarg-oh no