Midge Flies

Benthic Macroinvertebrates

Sensitive Benthos

Moderately Tolerant Benthos

Pollution Tolerant Benthos

Metamorphosis:

complete (see our life cycle page for more information)

Larvae:

most species are extremely small and thin; worm-like and wiggle intensely when out of water; color varies from gold, brown, green, and tan to black; length is usually less than 1/2 inch.

Reproduction:

female deposits a gelatinous mass of eggs on the water surface or attaches it to submerged vegetation.

Adults:

resemble small mosquitoes with fuzzy antennae on males.

Food:

primarily algae and other organic debris; many feed on other insect larvae.

Scientific Name:

Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Chironomidae

Midgefly larvae

Indicator Role:

Many midges, such as the blood worm Chironomus, are indicators of poor water quality and tolerant of pollution.

Information Source:

McDonald, B., W. Borden, J. Lathrop.1990. Citizen Stream Monitoring: A Manual for Illinois. Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, ILENR/RE-WR-90/18. Springfield, Illinois.

Other Links:

Midgefly larvae and adult

For more pictures, see our photo library on true flies (Diptera)
The Chironomidae Home Page from University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
Chironomidae of Florida from John Epler
Identification Manual for the Larval Chironomidae (Diptera) of North and South Carolina from North Carolina Division of Water Quality
Entomology: A Guide to the Freshwater Food Sources of British Columbia's Game Fish - Chironomid
Chironomidae in Freshwater Benthic Ecology and Aquatic Entomology Homepage
– S.M. Mandaville from the Soil & Water Conservation Society of MetroHalifax
Slide Mounting from the Aquatic Invertebrates of Montana

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