High-productivity
Guides
Cricotopus sylvestris
Cricotopus sylvestris is a non-biting midge in the family Chironomidae with a broad distribution spanning Asia, Europe, and North America. In the United Kingdom, it is considered native with a sporadic range. Laboratory studies indicate that larval development is strongly temperature-dependent, with completion in 10 days at 22–29°C versus 28 days at 15°C. The species exhibits one of the highest production-to-biomass (P/B) ratios reported for chironomids, suggesting rapid turnover and high ecological productivity.