What are Chironomus larvae also called as?
The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. Many species superficially resemble mosquitoes, but they lack the wing scales and elongated mouthparts of the Culicidae.
What is Chironomus larva?
Abstract. Chironomidae, also known as Chironomids, belongs to phylum Arthropoda “. The Chironomidae larva is most suitable animal to test aquatic toxicity of aquatic micro-pollutants. Larvae are bright red in color due to presence of hemoglobin; these are frequently known as “bloodworms”.
What do chironomid larvae eat?
detritus
The main food item ingested by the larvae was detritus, except for the Stenochironomus whose main food source was leaf and wood fragments. Tanypodinae exhibited a large quantity of animal remains of several kinds in the diet.
What is the meaning of Chironomus?
Chironomus is a genus of nonbiting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family, Chironomidae, containing several cryptic species that can only be distinguished by experts based on the characteristics of their giant chromosomes.
What do chironomids turn into?
Life Cycle: As mentioned earlier, chironomids proceed through a complete life cycle (or metamorphosis). The female lays eggs on the top of the water, and they sink to the bottom. An egg hatches into a larvae that continues to grow for up to two years before transforming into a pupa.
How long do midges live for?
3 to 5 days
After about three days, pupae actively swim to the surface, and adults emerge several hours later. Adults mate in swarms soon after emerging. More recent studies have shown that adult midges actually feed on nectar and other sugary materials. They live for only 3 to 5 days.
What is the life span of midges?
They do not feed and, consequently, only live for about 3 to 5 days. The entire life cycle of the aquatic midge is usually completed in 2 weeks. However, it is not uncommon for the life cycle to take longer.
What are midges in English?
noun. any fragile mosquito-like dipterous insect of the family Chironomidae, occurring in dancing swarms, esp near water. any similar or related insect, such as the biting midge and gall midge. a small or diminutive person or animal.
Where do the larvae of Chironomus get their oxygen?
The larvae of several species inhabit the profundal zone where they can reach relatively high densities. They use a combination of hemoglobin-like proteins and undulatory movements in their burrows to obtain oxygen in poorly oxygenated habitats. ^ Int Panis, L; Goddeeris, B; Verheyen, R F (1995).
What kind of midge is a Chironomus?
Chironomus is a genus of nonbiting midges in the subfamily Chironominae of the bloodworm family, Chironomidae, containing several cryptic species that can only be distinguished by experts based on the characteristics of their giant chromosomes.
Is the Chironomus fly part of the Diptera family?
“On the relationship between vertical microdistribution and adaptations to oxygen stress in littoral Chironomidae (Diptera)”. Hydrobiologia. 318 (1): 61–67. doi: 10.1007/BF00014132. S2CID 27026595. This article related to members of the fly family Chironomidae is a stub.
Where are the larval stages of the Chironomidae found?
Larval stages of the Chironomidae can be found in almost any aquatic or semiaquatic habitat, including treeholes, bromeliads, rotting vegetation, soil, and in sewage and artificial containers. They form an important fraction of the macro zoobenthos of most freshwater ecosystems.
