Chironomus plumosus

Chironomus plumosus
	Adult male
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Chironomidae
Genus:	Chironomus
Species:	C. plumosus
Binomial name
	Chironomus plumosus; (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
	Chironomus annularis De Geer, 1776; Chironomus ferrugineovittatus Zetterstedt, 1850; Chironomus hebescens Walker, 1856; Tipula plumosa Linnaeus, 1758;

Chironomus plumosus, also known as the buzzer midge, is a species of nonbiting midge (Chironomidae) that occurs throughout areas in the Northern Hemisphere.

Description

Adult

Adults are pale green with brown legs and grow to 12 mm (0.5 in). Males have feathery antennae, while females' antennae are sleek. A dark brown band is seen at the end of each abdominal segment. Adults of the sibling species C. muratensis and C. nudiventris cannot be distinguished from C. plumosus based on morphological characters.^[1]

Immature

The larvae are called bloodworms because some larvae are bright red, but they can also be found in brown and almost black. When the larva pupate, they drift towards the surface, making them vulnerable to many types of fish.^[2] Other common predators include the common backswimmer (Notonecta glauca), common pondskater (Gerris lacustris), common toad (Bufo bufo), lesser water boatman (Corixa punctata), dragonflies, damselflies, great crested newt (Triturus cristatus), great diving beetle (Dytiscus marginalis), redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), smooth newt (Triturus vulgaris), water scorpion (Nepa cinerea) and other midges such as Anatopynia plumipes.^[3]

Lifecycle

During the spring and summer, males create mating swarms which people can find quite a nuisance, though adults do not bite or feed. Females lay egg masses in water where the egg mass will grow and sink to the bottom. The larvae stay at the bottom in silken tubes.^[4] The larvae feed on organic material such as organic debris and algae.

References

^ Ryser H, Scholl A, Wülker W (1983). "Revision der Gattung Chironomus Meigen (Diptera) VII: C. muratensis n. sp. und C. nudiventris n. sp., Geschwisterarten aus der plusomus-Gruppe". Revue suisse de Zoologie. 90 (2): 299–316. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.81977.
^ "Chironomus plumosus - Buzzer Midge — an Illustrated Guide". Archived from the original on May 18, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
^ "Non-biting midge - Chironomus plumosus". Natural England. Archived from the original on September 19, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
^ Evans, Arthur V. (2007). "Flies: Order Diptera". Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. p. 235. ISBN 978-1-4027-4153-1.

External links

Media related to Chironomus plumosus at Wikimedia Commons
BioLib

[Ryser-1] Ryser H, Scholl A, Wülker W (1983). "Revision der Gattung Chironomus Meigen (Diptera) VII: C. muratensis n. sp. und C. nudiventris n. sp., Geschwisterarten aus der plusomus-Gruppe". Revue suisse de Zoologie. 90 (2): 299–316. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.81977.

[2] "Chironomus plumosus - Buzzer Midge — an Illustrated Guide". Archived from the original on May 18, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2009.

[3] "Non-biting midge - Chironomus plumosus". Natural England. Archived from the original on September 19, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2009.

[4] Evans, Arthur V. (2007). "Flies: Order Diptera". Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. p. 235. ISBN 978-1-4027-4153-1.

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