Troutnut Forum > Specimen Discussion > Midge
The Specimen
Rheotanytarsus Midge Larva
View 6 PicturesThis peculiar midge lived in a case tightly fixed to a rock, with several others of its kind. The case seems to be made of tiny grains of sand. I'm not sure what the function is for the little lines sticking out the front, because they aren't legs.
View 6 PicturesThis peculiar midge lived in a case tightly fixed to a rock, with several others of its kind. The case seems to be made of tiny grains of sand. I'm not sure what the function is for the little lines sticking out the front, because they aren't legs.Region: Northeast
Collected Apr 14, 2007
Added Apr 22, 2007
The Discussion
| DMM | April 23rd, 2007, 12:56 am | |
| Posts: 141 | I believe this is Rheotanytarsus | |
| David | ||
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| Taxon | April 23rd, 2007, 3:03 am | |
| Mercer Island, WA Posts: 484 | I believe this is Rheotanytarsus David- I know very little about Chironomids, but am interested in learning. So, I went to Merritt & Cummins to see if I could follow how you made this identification. The last larval couplet for Rheotanytarsus reads as follows: 15’. Distal portion of 2nd antennal segment only moderately expanded (Fig. 26.121); ………mentum not strongly arched (Fig. 26.102) …………… Rheotanytarsus Bause Fig. 26.121 appears below, and is titled Second antennal segment of Rheotanytarsus sp.  Jason’s picture_2885_full cropped to show only the head and darkened a bit appears below:  Unless I am seriously missing something, which certainly wouldn’t be unprecedented, Rheotanytarsus antennae appear to be branched following the 2nd segment, and I don’t see that character in Jason’s picture. Please advise. | |
| Roger Rohrbeck www.FlyfishingEntomology.com | ||
| DMM | April 23rd, 2007, 11:30 am | |
| Posts: 141 | Rheotanytarsus are the ones who make "cases" with the little "prongs" at the top. They use these to filter water (silk is woven between posts). As far as the antennae, they break very easily. In all of the samples of midges I've seen, I've only seen the Lauterborn organs once or twice. Normally, it takes a compound scope to ID midges. | |
| David | ||
| Taxon | April 23rd, 2007, 4:38 pm | |
| Mercer Island, WA Posts: 484 | Really great information, David. There are some of us on here who really appreciate the details, so please don't be reluctant to volunteer them. | |
| Roger Rohrbeck www.FlyfishingEntomology.com | ||
| Troutnut | April 23rd, 2007, 9:08 pm | |
| Fairbanks, AK Posts: 1115 | Ditto what Taxon said. | |
| Jason Neuswanger The Troutnut | ||
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