Chironomidae Larvae of the Netherlands and Adjacent Lowlands

Book excerpt: Chironomid larvae play an important role in aquatic ecosystems and are used in the assessment of water quality. However, the species are difficult to identify and there is a lack of information about their biology. This 2nd part of a series on Chironomidae larvae covers the most important tribes, Chironomini and Pseudochironomini, the well-known red bloodworms. They are the most important groups in stagnant water and can be very numerous, especially in polluted water. The author has brought together a wealth of information on the biology and ecology, geared especially to water quality assessment.