18-487: 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 chromosomes . In the early 20th century the name Tendipes Meigen, 1800 was often used instead. In 1963 the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature restored
36-537: A "furry" moth-like appearance, hence one of their common names, moth flies . Members of the sub-family Phlebotominae , which are hematophagous (feed on blood), may be called sand flies in some countries, although this term is also used for other unrelated flies. There are more than 2,600 described species worldwide, most of them native to the humid tropics. This makes them one of the most diverse families of their order. Drain flies sometimes inhabit plumbing drains and sewage systems, where they are harmless, but may be
54-541: A minor nuisance around bodies of water. Schröder, Oskar; Cavanaugh, Kirstin K.; Schneider, Julio V.; Schell, Tilman; Bonada, Núria; Seifert, Linda; Pauls, Steffen U. (2021). "Genetic data support local persistence in multiple glacial refugia in the montane net-winged midge Liponeura cinerascens cinerascens (Diptera, blephariceridae)" . Freshwater Biology . 66 (5): 859–868. Bibcode : 2021FrBio..66..859S . doi : 10.1111/fwb.13682 . Huerta, Heron; Grogan, William L. JR (2021). "A new species of predaceous midge in
72-503: A persistent annoyance. The larvae of the subfamilies Psychodinae , Sycoracinae and Horaiellinae live in aquatic to semi-terrestrial or sludge-based habitats, including bathroom sinks, where they feed on bacteria and can become problematic. The larvae of the most commonly encountered species are nearly transparent with a non-retractable black head and can sometimes be seen moving along the moist edges of crevices in shower stalls or bathtubs or submerged in toilet water. The larval form of
90-876: Is any small fly , including species in several families of non- mosquito nematoceran Diptera . Midges are found (seasonally or otherwise) on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid zones. Some midges, such as many Phlebotominae (sand fly) and Simuliidae (black fly), are vectors of various diseases. Many others play useful roles as prey for insectivores , such as various frogs and swallows . Others are important as detritivores , and form part of various nutrient cycles . The habits of midges vary greatly from species to species, though within any particular family, midges commonly have similar ecological roles. Examples of families that include species of midges include: The Ceratopogonidae (biting midges) include serious blood-sucking pests, feeding both on humans and other mammals. Some of them spread
108-484: 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 where they can reach relatively high densities. They use a combination of hemoglobin -like proteins and undulatory movements in their burrows to obtain oxygen in poorly oxygenated habitats. Midge See text A midge
126-479: The family, such as Phlebotomus ) are blood-sucking pests and disease vectors. Most midges, apart from the gall midges ( Cecidomyiidae ), are aquatic during the larval stage. Some Cecidomyiidae (e.g., the Hessian fly ) are considered significant pests of some plant species. The larvae of some Chironomidae contain hemoglobin and are sometimes referred to as bloodworms . Non-biting midge flies are commonly considered
144-399: The fly is usually between 4 and 5 mm (0.16 and 0.20 in) long, and is shaped like a long, thin, somewhat flattened cylinder. The body lacks prolegs, but the body segments are divided into a series of rings called annuli (singular is annulus ). Some of these rings will have characteristic plates on the dorsal side. The larval thorax is not significantly larger than the abdomen, giving
162-490: The genus Stilobezzia Kieffer from Mexico (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)". Zootaxa . 4908 (2): 297–300. doi : 10.11646/zootaxa.4908.2.11 . PMID 33756629 . S2CID 232340155 . Pinto, Thandy Junio da Silva; Moreira, Raquel Aparecida; Silva, Laís Conceição Menezes da; Yoshii, Maria Paula Cardoso; Goulart, Bianca Veloso; Fraga, Priscille Dreux; Montagner, Cassiana Carolina; Daam, Michiel Adriaan; Espindola, Evaldo Luiz Gaeta (2021). "Impact of 2,4-D and fipronil on
180-569: The larvae a more "worm-like" appearance than those of most aquatic insects. In some species, the larvae can secure themselves to surfaces of their environment using "attachment disks" on their ventral side. Like mosquito larvae, they cannot absorb oxygen through water, and instead breathe via a small dark tube (a spiracle ) on their posterior end — they must regularly reach the surface to obtain oxygen. The larval stage lasts for between 9 and 15 days, depending on species, temperature, and environment. There are four instar stages. In small numbers,
198-443: The larvae are sometimes considered beneficial, as their strong jaws can cut through the hair and sludge waste in drains which might otherwise form clogs. However, unless this sludge layer is removed entirely, the adult flies will continue to find it and lay more eggs. While the biting midges also have larvae that have no prolegs and which also have attachment disks, the larvae of the netwinged midges can be distinguished from those of
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#1732858793811216-853: The larvae, but are much broader in appearance, with a pair of hairy wings held pitched-roof-like over the body. The wings have the most elementary venation of any of the Diptera, having little more than a series of parallel veins without crossveins. The adults are typically nocturnal, though they orient themselves around lights and may appear to be attracted to light and odors. They are erratic fliers, and are often seen walking or running rapidly as well as taking flight. They are most active at night, but may also be seen during daylight, or near windows, lights, or illuminated display panels. The adults live for about 20 days, during which they will breed only once, often within hours of emerging from their pupal casings. Females will lay their eggs (between 30 and 100) just above
234-661: The livestock diseases known as blue tongue and African horse sickness – other species though, are at least partly nectar feeders, and some even suck insect bodily fluids. Many midges are known for having symbiotic relationships with many other organisms. These can be commensal, parasitic or mutualistic relationships. Many of the commensal relationships are found within the family Chironomidae . Other ceratopogonid midges are major pollinators of Theobroma cacao (cocoa tree). Having natural pollinators has beneficial effects in both agricultural and biological products because it increases crop yield and also density of predators of
252-458: The midges (still beneficial to all parties). The term "midge" is a vague term that refers to a large and diverse group of organisms. Although many are known as "bloodsuckers," there are many different roles that they play in their respective ecosystems. There is, for example, no objective basis for excluding the Psychodidae from the list, and some of them (or midge-like taxa commonly included in
270-406: The moth fly by the multiple deep lateral constrictions of the latter. The pupal stage lasts between 20 and 40 hours. During this stage, the insect does not feed, but stays submerged near the water surface, still breathing through a spiracle, and soon metamorphoses into an adult fly, which bursts through a seam in the pupal casing and emerges onto the water's surface. The adults are half as long as
288-472: 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. 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"). Larvae of Chironomus usually live in aquatic sediment . Those of
306-426: The traditional name Chironomus . 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 are red and usually have tubes on
324-484: The tropical midge Chironomus sancticaroli (Diptera: Chironomidae)" . Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety . 209 : 111778. Bibcode : 2021EcoES.20911778P . doi : 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111778 . hdl : 10362/126069 . PMID 33338803 . Psychodidae Phlebotomidae Psychodidae , also called drain flies , sink flies , filter flies , sewer flies , or sewer gnats , is a family of true flies . Some genera have short, hairy bodies and wings, giving them
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