Mysterious insect larvae in aquariums

[Cinabar]

I have these mysterious wiggly things in most of my tanks. They don’t bother me or any of the tank inhabitants but an ID would be nice. The larvae look like tiny white worms and swim in a twisty figure 8 motion. Pupae also squirm, although much slower. The pupae are dark and have a bulbous head with a tail, like a mosquito pupa if it was uncurled. Adults are tiny green winged insects. I also find loads of the dead on the
I’ll add pics and videos. StarGirl for all your creepy crawly needs

 

[NotSoAggressiveAquatics]

The thing out of water almost resembles a mosquito

 

[Catappa]

They wiggle in the same way as mosquito larvae and the grown insect also resembles a mosquito, although I've never seen any green ones. Maybe this is a kind that lives where you are. Do you have fish? I would expect them to eat the larvae. Ditto the crayfish.

 

[Cinabar]

They wiggle in the same way as mosquito larvae and the grown insect also resembles a mosquito, although I've never seen any green ones. Maybe this is a kind that lives where you are. Do you have fish? I would expect them to eat the larvae. Ditto the crayfish.

They’re not mosquitoes. We have several species of culex mosquitoes where I live and they’re a huge annoyance in the fall. I have severe reactions to their bites so I’m sure I’d know if they were in my tanks. Oddly enough they still appear in tanks with fish, although in much smaller numbers. In empty tanks I find dozens every week.

 

[Catappa]

They’re not mosquitoes. We have several species of culex mosquitoes where I live and they’re a huge annoyance in the fall. I have severe reactions to their bites so I’m sure I’d know if they were in my tanks. Oddly enough they still appear in tanks with fish, although in much smaller numbers. In empty tanks I find dozens every week.

Very mysterious! I was also thinking detritous worms, but they don't turn into flies.

 

[StarGirl]

They look like a type of green midge fly and larvae. Still looking.

 

[Catappa]

They look like a type of green midge fly and larvae. Still looking.

And midges are like mosquitoes! Ha! Ask anyone in Scotland about their native, almost microscopic, evil midges. I had the misfortune of being attacked by a swarm once when I was over there. How something that miniscule can cause so much irritation is remarkable!

People like to say that midges are what originally caused the Scots to do the Highland Fling!

I don't know if other species of midges are as awful.

 

[Cinabar]

More cool findings and a (possible!) conclusion... I’ve always had these strange algae tubes all over my empty tanks. Whenever I introduce fish or shrimp to the tank they mostly disappear, but they’re still plentiful in little hidden corners, inside my filters, etc. I assumed they were some weird algae formation or that was just how some detritus settled. But today! I poked it and a worm came out! I feel kind dumb for not connecting it sooner lol. These little tubes were built by the larvae as they grew. They’d poke their head out to much on algae but retreated back when they got startled. Looks like they’re Chironomid larvae- aka non-biting midges. Which is why I’ve never been bothered by them, thank god. Still have no idea on the species but hey this is good enough for me.

 

[Yeoy]

If you've got a lot of tanks, especially some open top, it's likely there is a small population living in your home. We had a small population of some sort of gnat/midge here a few years ago and with the humidity and easy food they love to hang around fish tanks.

They're probably not a problem for you, but I found the easiest way to get rid of them was those sticky strips that attract insects. Took a few weeks as they have various life cycles and eggs could be dormant for a while.