( Chironomidae )
PHOTO COMMENT
(Newman ,1834 )
LOCATION DETAILS
RECOGNITION
BIOLOGY
CREDITS
Adrian Cotter
Insect Sciences Museum of California
References
| Midge ( Chironomidae ) | |
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PHOTO COMMENT | |
| IDENTIFICATION | |
| Identification: | Chironomidae (Newman ,1834 ) |
| Common Name: | Midge |
| Life Stage: | (A) adult |
| PHYLOGENY | |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Superorder: | Holometabola |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Suborder: | Nematocera |
| Family: | Chironomidae |
| Taxon Code: | DIP02355 |
| ITIS/TSN: | 127917 |
LOCATION DETAILS | |
| Location Name | |
| Cerrito Creek, Albany | |
| County: | Alameda County |
| ECI Site#: | CA01020119 |
RECOGNITION | |
| Description | |
| Small flies, which resemble mosquitoes, but without piercing mouthparts. Wings: Long and narrow, without scales (mosquitoes wings have scales). Wing tips without a straight vein reaching the margin between two branched veins. Legs: Held characteristically over the head at rest. Front tarsi often very long. Antennae: Feathery (plumose) and long in males. | |
| Body Length | |
| In California, mostly 1-10 mm. | |
| Diversity | |
| America, north of Mexico: More than 1,050 species. Worldwide: Almost 7,300 species in about 540 genera. Worldwide number well over 10,000. | |
| Child Taxa | |
| The family is divided into 11 subfamilies: Aphroteniinae, Buchonomyiinae, Chilenomyinae, Chironominae, Diamesinae, Orthocladiinae, Podonominae, Prodiamesinae, Tanypodinae, Telmatogetoninae, and Usambaromyiinae. Most species belong to Chironominae, Orthocladiinae, and Tanypodinae. | |
| Similar Taxa | |
| Many species resemble mosquitoes, but lack the wing scales and elongated mouthparts of the Culicidae. They are closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae and Thaumaleidae. | |
BIOLOGY | |
| Adults are short-lived. Males form large mating swarms and "dance" in the air over water or lawns. | |
| Food | |
| Adults: Feed on fresh fly droppings, nectar, pollen, honeydew and sugar-rich materials (contrary to what is widely published). Larvae: Mostly scavengers, aquatic filter feeders, leafminers of aquatic plants, or predators on small invertebrates. A few species are parasites of invertebrates. | |
| Habitat | |
| Larvae are mostly aquatic, living in soft mud, decaying matter, under bark, in moist earth and nearly any aquatic or semiaquatic habitat, including treeholes, rotting vegetation, sewage and artificial containers. Larvae of some species tolerate seasonal desiccation. A number of species have adjusted life cycles to marine life and tide rhythm. | |
| Importance | |
| Larvae can be very abundant and important as food for many freshwater animals. Adults are fed upon by birds, bats and predatory insects. In mass emergences midge droppings can damage paint and other surfaces. In degraded or low-biodiversity ecosystems midges thrive because of low oxygen adaptations. For example, larvae of Chironomus sp. (known as ?bloodworms?) contain hemoglobin allowing larvae to collect oxygen. | |
| Range | |
| Worldwide, from Antarctica to the high Arctic islands, but perhaps absent from some hot deserts. | |
| Diversity | |
| America, north of Mexico: More than 1,050 species. Worldwide: Almost 7,300 species in about 540 genera. Worldwide number well over 10,000. | |
| Active Period | |
| Early spring through fall. | |
CREDITS | |
|
Photographer Adrian Cotter Insect Sciences Museum of California | |
References | |
| Family Chironomidae - Midges. (https://bugguide.net/node/view/3163). Accessed June 26, 2019. . | |
| ITIS. | |
| Chironomidae. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chironomidae). Accessed June 26, 2019. | |
