I have collected some chrionomids in a polluted pond (PCB's of 1.1 ppm, Pb, Mercrury, and a witches brew of other heavy metals) that had red heads (like blood midges) and green bodies. I found a note in an article that there are some chironomids in polluted waters that feed primarily on algae which gives them a green appearance. I called these critters "Christmas Chironomids" because of their appearance.
I have not been able to identify them any further.
Ed
On 30 Jun, 2004, at 0:41, Desert Eagle wrote:
*This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(tm) Pro* Can someone give me a definition of what a Chironomid is?
Non-biting midge. Chironomus tentans is a well-known representative, often used as a lab animal for testing the toxicity of pollutants to sediment-dwelling organisms (i.e. the larvae). Chironomids are small-to-medium sized diptera, very similar in looks to mosquitos, but without the biting-sucking mouthparts. Size of the adults varies from 2-3 mm to 12-15 mm. These are the midges that can often be seen hovering in extremely large congregations above shorelines.
The larvae and pupae are a staple food of insect-feeding fish in stillwaters and slow-flowing, silt-bottomed running waters.
Henk
====================Heisenberg was right!========================= | Dr. Henk J.M. Verhaar | | | Principal | e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]| | Ecotoxicology specialist | home: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | | ENVIRON Netherlands B.V. | | | Zeisteroever 17 | phone: +31 30 698 6218 | | NL-3704 GB Zeist | fax: +31 30 698 6239 | | the Netherlands | | ====================Uncertainty happens!==========================
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