''Chironomus'' is a genus of nonbiting

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

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 botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...

Chironominae 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. In the early 20th century the name ''Tendipes'' Meigen, 1800 was often used instead. In 1963 the

International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is an organization dedicated to "achieving stability and sense in the scientific naming of animals". Founded in 1895, it currently comprises 26 commissioners from 20 countries. Orga ...

restored the traditional name ''Chironomus''.

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 (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect developmental biology, development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typical ...

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 solid material that is transported to a new location where it is deposited. It occurs naturally and, through the processes of weathering and erosion, is broken down and subsequently sediment transport, transported by the action of ...

. 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 The profundal zone is the deep zone of a lake, located below the range of effective light penetration. This is typically below the thermocline, the vertical zone in the water through which temperature drops rapidly. The temperature difference may ...

where they can reach relatively high densities. They use a combination of

hemoglobin Hemoglobin (haemoglobin, Hb or Hgb) is a protein containing iron that facilitates the transportation of oxygen in red blood cells. Almost all vertebrates contain hemoglobin, with the sole exception of the fish family Channichthyidae. Hemoglobin ...

-like proteins and undulatory movements in their burrows to obtain

oxygen Oxygen is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group (periodic table), group in the periodic table, a highly reactivity (chemistry), reactive nonmetal (chemistry), non ...

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. It is found in the Palearctic The Palearctic or Palaearctic is a biogeographic realm of the Earth, the largest of eight. Confined almost entirely to the Eastern ...

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

Chironomus crassicaudatus ''Chironomus crassicaudatus'', commonly known as the thick-skinned midge, is a species of midge in the family Chironomidae. References Further reading * External links * Chironomidae Articles created by Qbugbot Insects described ...

'' 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 chromos ...

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

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2704714 Chironomidae Nematocera genera Taxa named by Johann Wilhelm Meigen

Description

Behaviour

Habitat

See also

Gallery

References