Chironomus plumosus, also known as the buzzer midge, is a species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 of non-biting midge

Chironomidae

Chironomidae are a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae...

 (Chironomidae) that occurs throughout areas in the Northern Hemisphere

Northern Hemisphere

The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...

.

Adult

Adults are pale green with brown legs and grow to 12 millimetre (0.47244094488189 in). Males have feathery antennae

Antenna (biology)

Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....

 while females' antennae are sleek. There is a dark brown band at the end of each abdominal segment. Adults of the sibling species

Sibling species

Sibling species are species that are very similar in appearance, in behavior and in other characteristics, but they are reproductively isolated. In other words, sibling species are pairs or groups of genetically closely related species which are often morphologically indistinguishable, but are...

 C. muratensis and C. nudiventris cannot be distinguished from C. plumosus based on morphological characters.

Immature

The larva

Larva

A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...

e are called bloodworms because some larva are bright red, but they can also be found in brown and almost black. When the larva pupate they will drift towards the surface, making them vulnerable to many types of fish. Other common predators include the common backswimmer

Notonecta glauca

Notonecta glauca is a species of backswimmer. It the most widespread and abundant of the four British notonectids....

 (Notonecta glauca), common pondskater

Gerris lacustris

Gerris lacustris, commonly known as the common pond skater or common water strider, is a species of water strider, found across Europe.-Physical description:...

 (Gerris lacustris), common toad

Common Toad

The common toad or European toad is an amphibian widespread throughout Europe, with the exception of Iceland, Ireland and some Mediterranean islands...

 (Bufo bufo), lesser water boatman

Lesser water boatman

The lesser water boatman is a water-dwelling insect of order Hemiptera.They normally grow to between 5 and 15 mm long, and are found in ponds, lakes and even swimming pools. The boatman feeds on algae and dead plant material...

 (Corixa punctata), dragonflies

Dragonfly

A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...

, damselflies

Damselfly

Damselflies are insects in the order Odonata. Damselflies are similar to dragonflies, but the adults can be distinguished by the fact that the wings of most damselflies are held along, and parallel to, the body when at rest...

, great crested newt

Great Crested Newt

The Great Crested Newt, also called Northern Crested Newt or Warty Newt is a newt in the family Salamandridae, found across Europe and parts of Asia.-Distribution:...

 (Triturus cristatus), great diving beetle (Dytiscus marginalis), redstart

Common Redstart

The Common Redstart , or often simply Redstart, is a small passerine bird in the redstart genus Phoenicurus...

 (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), smooth newt

Smooth Newt

The Smooth Newt, also known as the Common Newt, Lissotriton vulgaris is the most common newt species of the Lissotriton genus of amphibians. L...

 (Triturus vulgaris), water scorpion

Nepa cinerea

Nepa cinerea is a species of water scorpion , found in Central Europe and the British Isles.It lives in ponds and stagnant water and feeds upon aquatic animals, especially insects....

 (Nepa cinerea) and other midges such as Anatopynia plumipes

Anatopynia

Anatopynia is a genus of non-biting midges of the bloodworm family Chironomidae.-Distribution and Ecology:At present A. plumipes is the only species of Anatopynia known from the Palaearctic. The larvae can be found in polluted standing waters on anaerobic sediments and may be absent from nearby...

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Life cycle

During the spring and summer males will create mating swarms which people can find quite a nuisance even though adults do not bite, or feed. Females will lay egg masses in water where the egg mass will grow and sink to the bottom. The larva stay at the bottom in silken tubes. The larva feed on organic material such as organic debris and algae.