Polypedilum scalaenum
Schrank, 1803
Polypedilum scalaenum is a non-biting midge in the Chironomidae, first described by Schrank in 1803. The occurs in freshwater across northern Europe. Like other members of its , it has aquatic larval stages and terrestrial stages. The species has been documented in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden based on occurrence records.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Polypedilum scalaenum: /ˌpɒliˈpɛdɪləm skəˈliːnəm/
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Habitat
Freshwater environments including lakes, ponds, and slow-moving waters where larvae develop in aquatic sediments.
Distribution
Europe, with confirmed records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Life Cycle
Complete with , larval, pupal, and stages. Larvae are aquatic and inhabit benthic sediments; adults are terrestrial and short-lived.
Ecological Role
Larvae contribute to nutrient cycling in freshwater sediments through feeding and bioturbation. The serves as prey for aquatic and terrestrial .
More Details
Taxonomic history
Described by Franz von Paula Schrank in 1803, this has remained within the Polypedilum since its original description.
Observation data
The has accumulated 398 observations on iNaturalist, indicating moderate documentation effort relative to other species.