non-biting midges
(Chironomus spp.)
Overview • Description • Distribution • Taxonomy
Overview |
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Chironomus is a genus of non-biting midges. There are at at least 647 Chironomus species worldwide, about 90 species in North America north of Mexico, and at least 34 species in Minnesota. They occur worldwide, on every continent except Antarctica. They are very common and are found almost everywhere. Larvae are aquatic. They live in the sediment at the bottom of bodies of water. Many construct tubes of debris in which they live. They are highly tolerant of pollution. Some of them are red and are called bloodworms. Adults are short lived. They frequently occur in large swarms. As the family name suggests, they do not bite. |
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Description |
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Many of these species are nearly impossible to identify with a photograph. Some can be identified only by examining their giant chromosomes. The exoskeletal plate covering the thorax (pronotum) is widest in the middle and is notched. On most species, the upper part of the face has a pair of minute bumps (tubercles) in the middle. The antennae on the male have eleven segments. This combination of features helps to identify this genus, but each of these features is shared by at least one other genus of midges. |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 11/12/2022 | ||||
Taxonomy |
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Order |
Diptera (flies) | ||
Suborder |
Nematocera (long-horned flies) | ||
Infraorder |
Culicomorpha (mosquitoes and midges) | ||
Superfamily |
Chironomoidea | ||
Family |
Chironomidae (non-biting midges) | ||
Subfamily |
Chironominae | ||
Tribe |
Chironomini | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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non-biting midge (Chironomus abortivus) non-biting midge (Chironomus amachoerus) non-biting midge (Chironomus amachoerus) non-biting midge (Chironomus atrella) non-biting midge (Chironomus atroviridis) non-biting midge (Chironomus attenuatus) non-biting midge (Chironomus brunneipennis) non-biting midge (Chironomus chaetoala) non-biting midge (Chironomus crassicaudatus) non-biting midge (Chironomus cuneatus) non-biting midge (Chironomus digitatus) non-biting midge (Chironomus dorsalis) non-biting midge (Chironomus dux) non-biting midge (Chironomus fulvus) non-biting midge (Chironomus fumidus) non-biting midge (Chironomus fuscicornis) non-biting midge (Chironomus hyperboreus) non-biting midge (Chironomus laminatus) non-biting midge (Chironomus modestus) non-biting midge (Chironomus nervosus) non-biting midge (Chironomus nigricans) non-biting midge (Chironomus potomogeti) non-biting midge (Chironomus psittacinus) non-biting midge (Chironomus riparius) non-biting midge (Chironomus scopula) non-biting midge (Chironomus staegera) non-biting midge (Chironomus subtendens) non-biting midge (Chironomus tendans) non-biting midge (Chironomus tentans) non-biting midge (Chironomus tenuicaudatus) non-biting midge (Chironomus tritomus) non-biting midge (Chironomus utahensis) non-biting midge (Chironomus viridulus) Winnebago lake fly (Chironomus plumosus) |
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Synonyms |
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Chaetolabis Limnochironomus Tendipes |
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Common Names |
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This genus has no common name. The common name for the family Chironomidae is non-biting midges, and it is applied here for convenience. |
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Glossary
Pronotum
The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the first segment of the thorax of an insect.
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Alfredo Colon |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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| Chironomus Midge (Chironomidae: Chironomus) Close-up of Female Carl Barrentine |
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About
Jun 3, 2011 Photographed at Devils Lake, North Dakota (01 June 2011). |
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| Chironomus Midges (Chironomidae: Chironomus) on Wall Carl Barrentine |
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About
Jun 3, 2011 Photographed at Devils Lake, North Dakota (26 May 2011). |
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Visitor Sightings |
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| Alfredo Colon 6/3/2021 |
Location: Woodbury, MN |
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| Alfredo Colon 8/5/2019 |
Location: Woodbury, MN |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 11/29/2020
Last Updated: