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Slug with long tail
Sun, Nov 9, 2008 at 7:08 PM
I have found about 4 of these sluglike things in my home in the last couple of weeks and have no idea what they are. When I spray them with insect spray their skin seems to burn and turns a dark color. The photo attached is after I sprayed it. It is normally a brown/grey color. Should I be concerned that they are in my house?
Unsure
New Zealand

Rattailed Maggot

Dear Unsure,
We believe this is a Rattailed Maggot, the larva of a Drone Fly in the family Syrphidae.  We aren’t really familiar with your species in New Zealand, but Drone Flies are beneficial pollinators.  Their larvae, the Rattailed Maggots, are aquatic and live in stagnant water.  The Rattailed Maggots are not troublesome, but finding our why they are in your home in another questions.  We have read that Rattailed Maggots can be found in liquid cow manure in agricultural areas.  We haven’t the time to research if Drone Flies are found in New Zealand, or if your Rattailed Maggot is from a related genus.

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