340 



FAMILY CHIRONOMIDiE. 



(Gnats and Midges.) 



These insects are very >similai' to the Mosquito 

 family, but are smaller and in some cases are minute. 

 The wings have not scales present as those of 

 mosquitoes have, but they are often clothed with 

 scattered hairs, with a deep fringe of hairs on the 

 outer rim. 



The larvae vary in habits, some being water lovers, 

 Avhile others are terrestrial. There is a curious 

 little larva of one of the midges {C/iirononiiis), 

 which is like a little brilliant red worm which is 

 elongated and narroAv in form. These worm-like 

 larva? burrow in the mud of ponds. We bred out 

 these midges where larv^ were in water in a vessel 

 left exposed to the rain, and with an accumulation 

 of decaying leaves. We put some of the mud and 

 water weeds into a glass jar, and the larva^ were 

 quite happy. The antenna? of the male have a rod- 

 like axis, tapering towards the apex and thickly 

 clotlied will) long liaii-s. forming fine plumes. The 

 antenna? of the female are made of several distinct 

 ^■ioin^ts, witli only a few liairs present on eacli seg- 

 ment. 



Another species of Chironomid is the sand fly 

 (Ccratopogon molestes), which is sucli. a pest on 

 beaches and at places such as National Park. We 

 know it well by the irritation caused by its bite, 

 l)ut it is small, and fcAv are very familiar with the 

 actual fly. The larva? live in damp places, or in 

 v/ater. 



