caterpillar thingy in my planted tank

[Lady Elizabeth]

hi guys, a few days ago i notice that my echinodorus barthii started to have holes on it's leaves, then i noticed some patterns like it was chewed on or something.. i finally found the culprit and i want to know if any of you guys experienced having this hitchhiker in your tanks before.. this is the second time i encountered this critter in my old tank and it feasted on my bacopa.. here's the old pic.. maybe some expert can tell what this is, thanks

 

[travis simonson]

I don't know much about waterborne insects (yet ) but I sure hope it isn't any sort of dragonfly larvae (immature form). The nymph (teenage form) of the dragonfly lives underwater and can kill and eat fish or other creatures up to its own size. From what I've seen, this does not look like a dragonfly larvae, but I'll let the experts make that call.

 

[PITT]

Assuming it doesn't kill the fish that is pretty cool. My kids would go bonkers for "catipillers".

 

[Hoovercat]

Lady, I think you might need to show that to someone on your side of the pond. I've never seen or heard of such a critter and guess it might be sort of regional.

 

[David14259]

Freaky.

Let us know if you find out what it is.