Plumose-antennae
Guides
Chironomidae
non-biting midges, chironomids, lake flies, bay flies, sand flies, muckleheads, muffleheads, Canadian soldiers, American soldiers, blind mosquitoes, chizzywinks, bloodworms (larval stage)
Chironomidae is a large family of non-biting midges with over 10,000 described species globally. Adults are frequently mistaken for mosquitoes due to their similar body shape, but they lack wing scales and piercing mouthparts. The family exhibits remarkable ecological versatility, with larvae inhabiting diverse aquatic and terrestrial environments from Antarctic glaciers to tropical lakes. Males possess distinctive plumose antennae. Larvae of some species contain hemoglobin analogs that produce bright red coloration, earning them the common name 'bloodworms.'