Re: NANFA-L-- BLOOD WORMS AND ALLERGIES! Follow-Up

Hold The Cow! (darterman-in-cboss.com)
Sun, 28 May 2006 01:12:36 -0400

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Maybe in reply to: Hold The Cow!: "NANFA-L-- BLOOD WORMS AND ALLERGIES! Follow-Up"

> Bloodworms are larvae of _Chironomus_, a member of the non-biting
> midge family Chironomidae. This is a family of thousands of species
> of flies with aquatic larvae, aerial adults. Whenever you are next at
> a stream, look for the larvae on stones, logs and other hard surfaces
> in water. Also on the surface of sediments. They'll be in tubes made
> of silk and algae often.
>
> An expert on their taxonomy once told me that I could expect 50
> species in a single reach of an Ozark stream. Many are algivores, but
> others are detritivores, and some are predators. They contribute
> immensely to the ecology of aquatic systems. In fact, along with
> blackfly larvae, they are the favorite foods of darters in many
> streams.
>
> Also, look for the adults in the air around the stream, particularly
> in bright, sunny areas. They will often be in swarms perhaps a yard
> across. Each adult midge is only about a mm long. If you catch some
> you'll find that they have only two wings, like other flies. They
> won't bit you, but you may accidentally inhale a few, especially at
> night if you use a bright lamp! I have no idea if this would trigger
> the "allergic" response that somoe of you report.
>
> Dave Mc
>

Thanks for the info, Dave..... Hey also...these aren't the same ones that
keep diving-in-my head when I am-in-a stream on warm humid days, are they?
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Next message: Mysteryman: "Re: NANFA-L-- BLOOD WORMS AND ALLERGIES!"
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Maybe in reply to: Hold The Cow!: "NANFA-L-- BLOOD WORMS AND ALLERGIES! Follow-Up"