Does Anyone Know What These Are?

[Scooter]

Hi All,
I'm Looking for a little help in identifying these bugs. I took these pictures in 2004. I have only noticed them two times, late at night in our driveway and haven't seen them since. They appear to be some type of insect in its larvae stage. They were in a circle, about 5"-6" in diameter. The circle was real slimey. When I observed them they were moving in a slow circlular motion. There are some larvae that are lighter in color and larger in size. One of the weirdest things I've seen in nature. If it's any help, these were taken where I live in Western New York state.
This is an overview. There were two circles. It's an out of focus shot, but you can see tire tracks to get an idea of the size.

This is a closer shot:

And a close-up:

Any ideas?
Thanks, Tom

[DG]

ewwwwww

If you have a nearby university, find out who their entomologist is and take the pictures to him or her. That is weird. I have never seen anything like that.

[DShock]

Midges circling the wagons, preparing to defend themselves?
Doug

[perch]

Looks a lot like something that belongs in a kleenex!

[Marco]

Ringworm.


MaRK

[Celltech]

They look like hundreds af baby slugs

Bill

[Eight Thumbs]

Did you see the movie Alien? It's something along that line. Be very careful. 8T

[Scooter]

DG-"ewwwwww

If you have a nearby university, find out who their entomologist is and take the pictures to him or her. That is weird. I have never seen anything like that. "
Ha, Ha, Ewwwwww is right! The University of Buffalo is the closest big school that may have an entomology dept. I will look into it. As a side note my four year old (almost five) is big into bugs and other creepy crawlers right now and he wants to be an entomologist when he grows up! (along with an astronut, deep sea diver and construction worker, but not a Fireman " Because I can't get dressed fast enough"

Celltech said "They look like hundreds af baby slugs"
That could be what they were as we do have a lot of slugs in our yard.

"Midges circling the wagons, preparing to defend themselves?"
Doug, if you could of seen them you would know how plausable that sounds. It was very surreal watching them slowly make this slimey, writhing, hypnotic circle dance. I have to wonder if it was some kind of mating thing going on.
I hope I see them again some day. I'll take a video this time and a sample of some of them.
Keep the answers coming,
Tom

[Flyrodde]

Send the pictures to the people at this website. They will figure it out for you.

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/index.html

[ducksterman]

This may be an opportunity to create a fly that everyone would have to agree has not been done before

The nympho-ring
The nympho-lasso

It might demand very accurate casting