Chironomid Midge
Chironomidae
Identification 2
They are called Chironomid Midge and also non biting midge, blood worm and common midge. There are 4 stages of the midges: eggs, larvae, pupa and adult. It is mostly found in bodies of water like vernal pools.Their real name is Chironomidae. It is related to Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae.
Niche 2
It eats dead organisms, cladocera, copepods, and daphnia. Animals that eat it include fish and birds (when it is a adult).
Other Roles in the Ecosystem 3
It helps cycle energy back in the food chain. Larvae aid decomposition and recycle the nutrients. It helps the animals that feed on them by giving them food and mostly all animals have eaten them in one of the stages.They are one of the most important animals in the food chain because of the huge proportion of the animals that eat them.
Sources 2
http://gormanflyfishing.com
http://www.wikipedia.org
http://www.ask.com
http://www.ecospark.ca
Sources and Credits
- (c) spotted salamander group, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by spotted salamander group
- (c) spotted salamander group, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
- Adapted by spotted salamander group from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chironomidae
