Long Black Bug

[SeattleFarq]

Not sure if this is aquatic, but I figured I'd ask here anyways. I saw it working its way across the road near our house. We don't have any streams or stillwater immediately nearby, but I've seen caddis and mayflies in our yard, so maybe there's water around I don't know about. Anyways, this thing was maybe an inch, inch and a half long. Legs only in the front, with a long body extending behind it. All black. Any thoughts?

 

[Rob Allen]

Looks like a hellgramite

 

[SeattleFarq]

Looks like a hellgramite

That's what I thought, too. I thought they were water bugs?

 

[Stonefish]

Maybe a millepede?
SF

 

[SeattleFarq]

Maybe a millepede?
SF

Thought that at first, but it only had legs at the front. Maybe six total. The back 90% of its body was just dragging.

 

[Mark Melton]

Maybe something like this?

Carabid Ground Beetle Larva | The Backyard Arthropod Project

somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com

 

[SeattleFarq]

Maybe something like this?

Carabid Ground Beetle Larva | The Backyard Arthropod Project

somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com

Nice find. That could be it. We have a ton of those beetles in our yard, so that would make sense. Thanks!

 

[Northern]

Murder Hornet Larva?

 

[Rocking Chair Fan]

Say what? The new Atlantic Salmon reply? Ha Ha ha ha...

 

[Jim Ficklin]

I'll bet that thing would get your attention if it latched-on to something tender . . .

 

[Rob Allen]

I'll bet that thing would get your attention if it latched-on to something tender . . .

Watch the video of the guy getting bit by the giant desert centipede, it latches on with pincers, pulls on the skin. Rears back it's head and bites... stuff of nightmares..

 

[Kpstrawn]

It is likely a larval Rove Beetle of the family Staphylinidae. Very common though not often seen because they live in decaying matter. This is a very good critter to have around as they are highly predatory and like to eat termites. This one is not big enough to inflict a bite on a person but some species can. It is likely in the last stage of being a larva and will turn to the adult stage in the next few weeks.

 

[Mark Melton]

How did you come up with a Rove Beetle of the family Staphylinidae? I googled Staphylinidae larvae and found nothing that looked similar.