Buzzer midge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buzzer midge |
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| Adult male | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Chironomidae
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| Genus: |
Chironomus
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| Species: |
C. plumosus
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| Binomial name | |
| Chironomus plumosus (Linnaeus, 1758)
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The buzzer midge, officially known as Chironomus plumosus, is a type of midge found across the Northern Hemisphere. Unlike some other insects, these midges do not bite. They are a common sight near water.
Contents
About the Buzzer Midge
What Do Adult Midges Look Like?
Adult buzzer midges are usually pale green. They have brown legs. These insects can grow up to about 12 millimeters long. Male midges have antennae that look like tiny feathers. Female midges have smooth, sleek antennae. Each part of their body (called an abdominal segment) has a dark brown band at the end. It can be hard to tell C. plumosus apart from some very similar midge species just by looking at them.
What Are Midge Larvae Called?
The young forms of the buzzer midge are called larvae. Many people know them as bloodworms. This is because some of these larvae are bright red. However, they can also be brown or almost black. When the larvae are ready to change, they become pupae. These pupae float up to the water's surface. This makes them an easy meal for many different animals.
Who Eats Bloodworms?
Many creatures like to eat bloodworms. These include various types of fish. Other common predators are:
- the common backswimmer
- the common pondskater
- the common toad
- the lesser water boatman
- dragonflies
- damselflies
- the great crested newt
- the great diving beetle
- the common redstart (a bird)
- the smooth newt
- the water scorpion
- other types of midges, like Anatopynia plumipes
Life Cycle of the Buzzer Midge
During spring and summer, male buzzer midges gather. They form large groups called mating swarms. These swarms can sometimes be annoying to people. However, adult midges do not bite or feed on anything. After mating, female midges lay their eggs in the water. The eggs stick together in a mass. This egg mass grows and then sinks to the bottom of the water. The young larvae live at the bottom. They build small tubes out of silk. These larvae eat tiny bits of organic material. This includes things like dead plants and algae.
