Chironomidae

Naast een groot aantal terrestrische soorten zijn de larven in meerderheid aquatisch, in de meest uiteenlopende habitats, variërend van zeer schoon tot sterk vervuild, inclusief brak en volledig marien. De larven leven van kleine organische deeltjes en planton, sommige zijn carvivoor (o.a. Tanypodinae). De samenstelling van de larvale fauna speelt een belangrijke rol bij de beoordeling van de waterkwaliteit. Adulten eveneens in allerlei habitats, het meest in de buurt van water. Mannetjes soms in enorme zwermen, bijvoorbeeld de bekende Ijsselmeermuggen.

Klink & Moller Pillot 2003 (larvae; Northwestern Europe); Langton & Visser 2003 (pupae; Northwestern Europe); Lindegaard 1997 (subfamilies, tribes); Pasini & Ferrarese 1998 (Italy); Pinder 1978a, 1978b (British Isles); Shilova 1989 (former USSR); Wiederholm 1983 (larvae), 1986 (pupae), 1989 (adults); Wilson & Ruse 2005 (pupae British Isles); CMPD: Saether et al. 2000; CAT: Ashe & Cranston 1990.

Notwithstanding a considerable number of species of which the larvae are terrestrial, the larvae of the majority of the species are aquatic. They inhabit a large array of habitats ranging from the pristine to the most severely polluted and including brackish, marine and saline habitats. The larvae feed on algae, small or larger particles of organic matter and on plankton; some are carnivorous (Tanypodinae and some others). The composition of the larval fauna is a major factor in ascertaining the quality of the water. The adult, likewise, occur in a wide range of habitats, largely those near water. In some cases, the males fly in conspicuously large swarms.


Chironomidae sp.	Chironomidae sp.

Chironomidae sp.	Chironomidae sp.

Chironomidae sp.	Chironomidae sp.

Chironomidae sp. (foto Alie van Erkelens)	Chironomidae sp.

Chironomidae sp. (foto Alie van Erkelens)