''Chironomus'' is a genus of nonbiting

midge A midge is any small fly, including species in several families of non-mosquito Nematoceran Diptera. Midges are found (seasonally or otherwise) on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid zones. Some mid ...

s in the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

Chironominae Chironominae is a subfamily of midges in the non-biting midge family (Chironomidae). Genera *Tribe Chironomini **''Axarus'' Roback 1980 **'' Baeotendipes'' Kieffer, 1913 **'' Beckidia'' Sæther 1979 **'' Carbochironomus'' Reiss & Kirschbaum 199 ...

of the bloodworm family, Chironomidae, containing several

cryptic species In biology, a species complex is a group of closely related organisms that are so similar in appearance and other features that the boundaries between them are often unclear. The taxa in the complex may be able to hybridize readily with each oth ...

that can only be distinguished by experts based on the characteristics of their giant chromosomes.

Description

Adult ''Chironomus'' are midges with the pronotum widest in the middle and bearing a notch, the head usually bearing a pair of small tubercles above the antennal bases, the antennal flagellum of males having 11 segments, and the male genitalia has inferior volsella large and larger than superior volsella. They range from 5 to 13 mm in length.

Larvae A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. The ...

are red and usually have tubes on the side or bottom of the eighth abdominal segment. These features are not unique to ''Chironomus'', also being found in some related genera. Adult males can be distinguished from females by their feather-like antennae.

Behaviour

When at rest, adults often raise their front legs and vibrate them. This is the source of the genus name, which is derived from "cheironomos" (Greek for "one who moves the hands").

Habitat

Larvae of ''Chironomus'' usually live in aquatic

sediment Sediment is a naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of wind, water, or ice or by the force of gravity acting on the particles. For example, sand an ...

. Those of the ''C. decorus'' group, ''C. riparius'' group and ''C. stigmaterus'' generally live in conditions of high nutrients and low oxygen. There are also ''Chironomus'' that live in relatively clean water. The larvae of several species inhabit the profundal zone where they can reach relatively high densities. They use a combination of

hemoglobin Hemoglobin (haemoglobin BrE) (from the Greek word αἷμα, ''haîma'' 'blood' + Latin ''globus'' 'ball, sphere' + ''-in'') (), abbreviated Hb or Hgb, is the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein present in red blood cells (erythrocyte ...

-like proteins and undulatory movements in their burrows to obtain

oxygen Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as wel ...

in poorly oxygenated habitats.

Gallery

File:Chironomus anthracinus,Trawscoed, North Wales, April 2015 2 - Flickr - janetgraham84.jpg, ''

Chironomus anthracinus ''Chironomus anthracinus'' is a species of fly in the family Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are closel ...

'' File:Chironomus crassicaudatus P1570795a.jpg, ''

Chironomus crassicaudatus ''Chironomus crassicaudatus'' is a species of midge in the family Chironomidae The Chironomidae (informally known as chironomids, nonbiting midges, or lake flies) comprise a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are cl ...

'' File:Chironomus yoshimatsui.jpg, ''

Chironomus yoshimatsui ''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 chromoso ...

'' File:Chironomus spec. (Chironomidae) - (larva), Elst (Gld), the Netherlands.jpg, ''Chironomus'' sp. larva

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2704714 Chironomidae Nematocera genera

Description

Behaviour

Habitat

See also

Gallery

References