#2377 - Fam. Chironomidae - Non-biting Midge
AKA as Lake Flies, and a wide variety of other common names of wild inconsistency, including blind mosquitoes, chizzywinks, bay flies, sand flies, muckleheads, muffleheads, and Canadian soldiers and American soldiers (guess where). When at rest, adults often raise their front legs and vibrate them, hence the scientific name for the family via the Ancient Greek word kheironómos, "a pantomimist".
Definitely mosquito-like in anatomy, but lacking the piercing mouthparts and scales on the wings. Males have fuzzy antennae. They're also a complete nightmare to identify down to species - some can only be told apart by comparing their chromosomes.
There are probably over 10,000 species worldwide, including in Antartica. Larvae are usually aquatic, some thrive in highly polluted and nearly anoxic water, and bright red from their hemoglobin content, and some species emerge as adults in gigantic numbers. Contrary to long-standing belief, many chironomid adults do in fact eat, but are nonetheless shortlived compared to the larvae.
Pohokura, North island, New Zealand
