veliger

noun

1. The planktonic larva of many kinds of marine and freshwater gastropod molluscs, as well as most bivalve molluscs.

   “In 2025, state officials reported veligers in Long Lake, DeMontreville Lake, and Olson Lake, a connected trio of lakes near Pine Springs, after previously documenting adult mussels in Long Lake. Later that summer, Cedar Lake in Scott County and Big Marine Lake in Washington County were also listed as infested following the discovery of larvae in water samples and zebra mussels attached to equipment and watercraft.”