Chironomids as a Nuisance and of Medical Importance

Chironomids, the “non-biting midges” (Diptera: Chironomidae) are one of the most important groups of insects worldwide in freshwater, aquatic ecosystems. Chironomids can be found on all continents, including Antarctica. They are abundant in terms of the number of species that are known to exist (estimated number between 15,000 and 20,000), their relative biomass or both. They play an important role in the decomposition process. Large populations of midges with densities amounting to several thousand larvae/m² (usually on the floor of freshwater habitats) have been reported. They are a source of economic burden, nuisance, and health problems. Large midge population densities create conflict with nearby human settlements. This phenomenon is recognized worldwide, in the United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Italy, Spain, Israel, New Zealand and Sudan.

Chironomidae (particularly Chironomus) emerging from polluted natural and man-made aquatic habitats, near or in urban districts, can...