Male Non Biting Midge Fly - Chironomus sp
The larva of the midge fly are the familiar looking red bloodworm that live on the bottom of rivers and lakes. When the pupa float to the surface this is when the adult midge fly hatches out. The newly emerged midge fly seen here is waiting for its body to harden before flying off to mate as this is when the adults are at their most vulnerable stage. In the Antarctic midges are an important food source as it has been said with out the swarms of flies every year there would be far less wildlife as the flies are an important part of the lower food chain, which just goes to show you how important even the small things in nature are.
Male Non Biting Midge Fly - Chironomus sp
The larva of the midge fly are the familiar looking red bloodworm that live on the bottom of rivers and lakes. When the pupa float to the surface this is when the adult midge fly hatches out. The newly emerged midge fly seen here is waiting for its body to harden before flying off to mate as this is when the adults are at their most vulnerable stage. In the Antarctic midges are an important food source as it has been said with out the swarms of flies every year there would be far less wildlife as the flies are an important part of the lower food chain, which just goes to show you how important even the small things in nature are.