Identification of pond creature

[Alison]

OH took this photo the other day and we're wondering what it is. Think there are two of them in the pond at the lottie and we're not sure if they're good or bad. Any help appreciated

[Two_Sheds]

Dragonfly larvae?

[DeanzBeanz]

Oh these are good! I'm sure it is a dragonfly nymph or similar flying insect. They can live in the water for years before growing into adults. They are usually a good sign of water quality.

DBZ

[roitelet]

Yes deffo dragon fly larve. They come in many shapes and sizes just depends on the dragon fly.

The large one in the picture is probably one of the lubella group. Large short bodied and fly in the early summer. I think that there is a smaller larve in the foreground as well.

If you have seen one or two you probably have lots.

[DaveJ]

Dragonfly larvae can be ferocious little critters attacking anything that moves, but of course are an absolute joy to watch when at adult stage.

[Alison]

Thanks everybody, does look like one doesn't it. Am now a bit concerned that it may be responsible for the lack of little frogs this year - any ideas how I can solve that one as from what it says on google they'll eat anything

[Two_Sheds]

Alison, would it be possible to scoop out the frogspawn next year and raise them in a fish tank or similar?

[fishpond]

"am now a bit concerned that it may be responsible for the lack of little frogs this year "

They tend to eat tadpoles more so than small frogs---even so, I doubt that the larvae are responsible for the lack of little frogs.(Thats an awful lot of food)
Imho I would leave alone and let nature take its course---unless we have a late winter, in which case it may be prudent to keep spawn in a bucket or similar until the hard frosts are gone.

P.S
You may not have seen the baby frogs, but they will no doubt be hiding somewhere on the allotment, waiting for the call to all jump back in the pond again---feb/march down here.

[Alison]

You may not have seen the baby frogs, but they will no doubt be hiding somewhere on the allotment, waiting for the call to all jump back in the pond again---feb/march down here.

You could well be right, hopefully so anyway . Lost a few big ones last winter in the bad weather (saw them floating near the surface after the pond had frozen) and was worried we'd lost them all but have seen quite a few adult ones since so maybe just missed the smaller ones.