Chironomidae (informally known as "chironomids" or "non-biting midges") are a family of Nematoceran Diptera with a global distribution. They are closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae. Many species superficially resemble mosquitoes but they lack the wing scales and elongate mouthparts of the Culicidae. This is a large group of insects with over 5000 described species and 700 species in North America alone. Males are easily recognized by their plumose antennae. Adults are known as "lake flies" in parts of Canada and as "blind mosquitoes" in Florida, USA. Larvae can be found in almost any aquatic or semiaquatic habitat, including treeholes, bromeliads, rotting vegetation, soil, and in sewage and artificial containers. Larvae of some species are bright red in color due to hemoglobin; these are often known as "bloodworms".

The family is divided into eleven subfamilies: Aphroteniinae, Buchonomyiinae, Chilenomyinae, Chironominae, Diamesinae, Orthocladiinae, Podonominae, Prodiamesinae, Tanypodinae, Telmatogetoninae, Usambaromyiinae.

Adults can be pests when they emerge in large numbers. They can damage paint, brick, and other surfaces with their droppings. When large numbers of adults die they can build up into malodorous piles. They can provoke allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Larvae are important as food items for fish and other aquatic organisms. They are also important as indicator organisms, i.e., the presence or absence of various species in a given body of water can give a good idea of what kinds of pollutants may be present and in what quantities. Their fossils are also widely used as indicators of past environmental changes, including past climatic changes.

References

• Ali, A. 1991. Perspectives on management of pestiferous Chironomidae (Diptera), an emerging global problem. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 7: 260-281.

• Coffman, W.P. and L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 1996. Chironomidae. Pp. 635-754. In: R.W. Merritt and K.W. Cummins, eds. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.

• Epler, J.H. 2001. Identification manual for the larval Chironomidae (Diptera) of North and South Carolina. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

• Walker, I. R. 2001. Midges: Chironomidae and related Diptera (invited review). pp. 43-66, In: J. P. Smol, H. J. B. Birks, and W. M. Last (eds). Tracking Environmental Change Using Lake Sediments. Volume 4. Zoological Indicators. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.

External Links

1. The Chironomid Home Page
2. Chironomidae Research Group, University of Minnesota
3. Family Chironomidae at Soil and Water Conservation Society of Metro Halifax
4. Checklist of UK Recorded Chironomidae
5. Chironomidae at Nomina Insecta Nearctica
6. Chironomidae at Australian Faunal Directory

Internal Links

1. Chironomidae

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