Phantom Midge
The Phantom Midge (Family: Chaoboridae) are commonly found in ponds and still waters. This example is a juvenile or larva (ca. 7mm in length) which is nearly transparent with a partially tallow cast. It has two opaque features or airbags (one in the thorax, one in the abdomen in the second last segment). The adult forms are differentiated by wing venation and delicate flies that closely resemble Chironomidae. This larva was found in a bag of purchased Daphnia and care therefore needs to be taken to distinguish minute pond creatures when studying them microscopically.
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Phantom Midges (Family Chaoboridae)Observer
rgcooper2023Description
Larva of a Phantom Midge (Family: Chaoboridae) identified in a bag of 'Daphnia' collected from a local pond facility in the West Midlands, UK.
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