Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Psychodidae larva?

Posted by atylotus on 07-03-2010 18:15
#14

The Chironomidae is definately an Orthocladiinae. One of the easy to see features are the eyes. In (almost?) all species of Orthocladiinae there is a larger posterior and a smaller anterior eye. In other subfamilies the eyes are different: a single kidney-shaped eye=Tanypodinae, 2-3 smaller eyes, but about evenly large= Chironomini. In the latter family the eyes are orientated in a triangular (3-eyes) or in a vertical (2 eyes) plane. Tanytarsini have about the the same eyes as in Chironomini, but there is an antennal pedestal, which is diagnostic. There are off course many other features, but with some experience the subfamilies are easily seperated using the eyes and antenna only.