Chironomidae (family) (Non-biting Midge)

ADULTS: similar in appearance to mosquitoes, but neither sex take a blood meal; they may feed on nectar, honeydew or insect droppings

LARVAE: up to 14mm long, common in wetlands and still water, and also in anoxic water or soil, and some species live in the marine intertidal zone. They are typically blood red ... hence the common name of 'blood worms'. They may also coil and uncoil, thrashing about.

Regional distribution

Chironomidae (family) is listed in the following regions: