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3. What is going on here?!

Hey guys. I don't often pull my camera our of its zip-lock bag for much aside from fish and scenery, but this was just weird. I have never seen such a gathering of little centipede-looking critters, and I wouldn't even post them here except that all of this was happening so close to the water that there are probably a few extra happy fish swimming around this evening. Of course, I'm interested because it's likely I'm going to head back to this stream in the near future and wouldn't mind knowing what extra bits of food the fish might be feeding on in the evenings. Anyway, thought you guys might be interested and / or could tell me what the heck was going on. Thanks!

Chris.

I have noticed these critters near and in water here in Indiana, too. If they're the same thing I've seen, they're a kind of millipede. Funny thing is, I've not noticed them in other years (and I regularly go out of my way to find stuff like this).

Not sure that fish, or *trout* (there is a distinction), would find them tasty. I know that some millipedes put off a disgusting scent that predators find revolting. At least I find it revolting when I step on one barefoot. Maybe someone else out there knows more (e.g., Gonzo or Taxon; of course they may not know more, but at least they'll give you a wrong answer with confidence--a nod to comments from a recent Drunella thread).

Disclaimer: I'm not really an entomologist, I just play one on troutnut.com. ;)

Hah! Darn right! (Or would that be darn wrong?) That reminds me of Shawn quoting the Strunk and White comments that if you don't know how to pronounce a word, at least say it loud; that way you won't compound ignorance with inaudibility! :)

Hey, Chris, don't pay any attention to Konchu's disclaimer. There may be times when he wishes he weren't an entomologist, but trust me, he is.

That is probably Narceus americanus. (But who knows, tomorrow it may be a subspecies of something else.)

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narceus_americanus

Oxidus gracilis !!!