CATDOLL : CATDOLL: How to eliminate chironomids in fish tanks? (Chironomid larvae)

1. How to eliminate midges in the fish tank?

Removal method:

1. The coverage of the gauze will still be much stronger

This depends on individual operation. For example, the filter tank of some fish tanks is not large, with a total of one or two partitions, so we can cover it with a small gauze, and the operation is not too complicated.

If the filter tank area is too large, the gauze will be too troublesome and biological treatment will be the only option.

2. At least we should pay attention to two points. The first is that no matter what kind of creatures are placed, they must be able to eat mosquito eggs, and they must not be pumped away by the water pump. If it is the sewage from the top filtration system, we need to add a leak net to block it. This only refers to the top filtration with overflow type with partitions. Drip top filtration is generally unlikely to have these things.

2. What kind of species is the green mosquito?

The blue mosquito is a midge, named because its body color is mainly blue.

Chironomids are ovoid or oblong, white, yellow, brown or red, and lay dozens to hundreds of them, which are embedded in gelatin, forming long gelatinous strips or blocks. The larvae are light-colored, and some species have blood-red bodies due to the hemoglobin in their body fluids. The body is slender, and the thickness of each body segment is similar. Adult chironomids rarely eat, or only eat a small amount of liquid containing sugar.

They are strongly phototropic at night and are often seen under lights. After emerging from their pupae, they often have mating flights. Male adults fly in large groups in the early morning or at dusk. Females are attracted to the group and mate immediately, which is usually completed within a few seconds. Females generally only lay eggs once in their lifetime, directly on the water surface, or by attaching the gelatinous egg bands to aquatic plants.

3. What kind of insect is the adult red worm?

The answer is: the adult of red worm is called chironomid.

Chironomids are also members of the mosquito family, but they are vegetarians. Their larvae live in water and feed on aquatic plankton.

Chironomids generally have two breeding seasons in spring and autumn. Their reproduction amount is very large, with a breeding cycle of 5 to 10 days and a life span of 1 to 3 months. Therefore, a large number of chironomids will appear during the breeding season every year. These are the small mosquitoes that you often see buzzing and flying around the night fishing lights when you go night fishing, but the ones that don't bite you are called chironomids.

4.What is a Chironomid?

Chironomids are the adult midge of the bloodworm used for fishing. They are also called chironomid, nonbiting midge or gnat. They are small insects of the Chironomidae family of the order Diptera. They resemble mosquitoes but are harmless. They have no scales on their bodies and wings, and their wing veins are different from those of mosquitoes. Their mouthparts are small and do not extend into straws. The antennae of male chironomids are feathery. They gather around ponds and rivers around dusk, making a buzzing sound. They breed in water, manure or under tree bark. The larvae are aquatic, worm-like, and soft, and are an important food for aquatic animals (especially fish). Chironomids are closely related to biting midges. They are a common name for the Chironomidae family of the suborder Longicornis of the order Diptera. They are distributed worldwide, covering all major regions. More than 5,000 species are known in the world. They are a very common and numerous insect that are of great significance to the ecological balance of freshwater waters and fish farming. They are a species of the Chironomidae family. Tiny to medium-sized. The body shape is similar to that of mosquitoes (Culicidae), mostly slender and fragile, but the large species are similar to mosquitoes, but are more robust. The body color varies, ranging from white, yellow, light green, black, and may have bright spots. The body is not scaled. The head is relatively small, with well-developed compound eyes, and small hairs may grow between the ommatidia. There are no simple eyes. The antennal pedicels are degenerate and almost invisible; the pedicels are well-developed and spherical; the flagellums are filamentous. The mouthparts are degenerate. Oval or oblong, white, yellow, brown or red, and dozens to hundreds of them are often embedded in gelatin to form long gelatinous ribbons or in blocks when laid. The larvae are light-colored, and some species have blood-red bodies due to the hemoglobin contained in their body fluids. The body is slender, and the thickness of each body segment is similar. Adult chironomids rarely feed, or take a small amount of liquid containing sugar. They are strongly phototropic at night and are often seen under lights. After emergence, they often have the habit of mating flights. Male adults fly in large groups in the early morning or at dusk. Females are attracted to the group and mate immediately, which is usually completed within a few seconds. Females generally lay eggs only once in their lifetime, directly on the water surface, or by attaching the gelatinous egg band to aquatic plants. The egg stage varies from a few days to a few weeks, but the egg stage of most species is very short. The larval stage occupies most of the entire life history, ranging from 2 weeks to 4 years, generally from April to May. Chironomid larvae are one of the main groups of benthic animals in freshwater waters. According to general estimates, chironomid species can account for about 25% of the lake biota. The number of individuals is often extremely large, and it is not uncommon for the habitat density to reach 50,000 larvae per square meter, so they have become an important part of the biomass of the water area. Because they mainly feed on organic debris on the bottom of the water and their food intake is quite considerable, they play a significant role in accelerating the mineralization of organic matter in the circulation of water bodies and eliminating organic pollution. Chironomids are rich in species and individuals, and different species have different requirements for water habitats, making them excellent indicator organisms for monitoring water environment and pollution conditions. They are widely used in the fields of ecology and environmental science. Chironomid larvae are also excellent natural bait for fish and have high nutritional value, so they are closely related to fish farming. On the other hand, the larvae of a few herbivorous species can cause damage to aquatic cash crops.

5. Does the midge not suck blood?

A: Yes, the midge does not suck blood. It feeds on plankton in the water.

Chironomids have hemoglobin in their bodies and are blood red. They are also called red worms, commonly known as fish worms, and are part of the food chain of fish and shrimp in water bodies. Chironomid larvae rely on aquatic plankton for food, which does not pollute the water body and can also purify the water quality. Chironomids have a large reproduction rate, a reproduction cycle of 5 to 10 days, and a life span of 1 to 3 months. It is generally estimated that chironomid species account for about 25% of the lake biota. The number of individuals is often extremely large, and it is not uncommon for the habitat density to reach 50,000 larvae per square meter, making them an important part of the biomass of the water body.

6. What kind of insect is this small green insect that looks like a mosquito?

This bug is called a chironomid and can be killed with an insecticide spray.

Adult chironomids live in plants, sheltered sand traps and indoor environments. These adults can be killed with spray insecticides. Unlike mosquito larvae, chironomid larvae do not need to breathe on the water surface, but will absorb oxygen dissolved in the water. Therefore, mosquito oil cannot be used to suffocate the larvae. Insecticides and larvicides such as Bacillus thuringiensis are better methods to control the growth of chironomid larvae.

As chironomids are aquatic in both their larval and pupal stages, reducing their breeding sources and managing water quality can be considered basic prevention and control measures. Citizens should check drainage channels regularly to avoid water accumulation.

7. What is a chironomid? Is there any difference between a chironomid and an ordinary mosquito?

There is a difference. Chironomids and common mosquitoes are small insects of the same class, order, but different families. Chironomids are a general term for a large class of small insects. They are very common and numerous, with more than 5,000 species known worldwide. Chironomids belong to the order Diptera, the suborder Longicornis, and the family Chironomidae. They are distributed all over the world. Their appearance is generally similar to that of common mosquitoes in the family Culicidae, mostly slender and fragile, and the larger species are more robust than mosquitoes. Their body colors vary, including black, white, yellow, light green, etc., or with bright spots. Their heads are relatively small, with well-developed compound eyes, small hairs between the small eye surfaces, and no simple eyes. The antennae and mouthparts have degenerated to the point where they are almost invisible. Chironomids do not spread diseases. The larvae of chironomids grow and develop in fresh water, and in warm seasons they feed on tiny organic debris, algae, bacteria, and remains of aquatic plants and animals in the water. Chironomid larvae are light in color. Some species have blood-red bodies due to the hemoglobin in their body fluids. They are commonly known as small red worms and can be raised artificially as feed for farmed fish. The larval stage occupies most of the entire life cycle. After the larvae emerge as adults, they hardly eat, or take a small amount of liquid containing sugar. Chironomids are dioecious. They have strong phototropism and are often seen under lights at night. After emerging from their shells, they often have the habit of mating flights, with large groups flying in the early morning or at dusk, and mating between males and females is completed within a few seconds. However, the eggs laid by female chironomids do not need fertilization, and they directly develop into small chironomids in the mother's hatching sac. These small "chironomids" are usually females. Mating females generally only lay eggs once in their lifetime, directly on the water surface, or by attaching the gelatinous egg bands to aquatic plants. The egg period varies from a few days to a few weeks, but most species have a very short egg period. The eggs hatch into larvae in the water. Common mosquitoes belong to the class Insecta, order Diptera, and family Culicidae, and there are about 3,000 species worldwide. Mosquitoes are distributed on all continents except Antarctica. Among them, Anopheles, Aedes and Culex are the most famous. The head of a mosquito is hemispherical, with a pair of compound eyes and antennae, and a proboscis. The antennae have 15 segments, each of which has a whorl of hairs. The whorls of hairs on female mosquitoes are short and sparse, while those on male mosquitoes are long and dense. In addition to whorls of hairs, there is another type of short hairs on the antennae of female mosquitoes, which are distributed on each flagellum. These short hairs react to changes in chemical substances in the air and are particularly sensitive to compounds such as carbon dioxide, lactic acid and humidity. It is the short hairs, not the compound eyes, that play a role in finding blood-sucking objects. Mosquitoes have piercing-sucking mouthparts. Male adults feed on plant sap, while females feed on animal blood to complete the development of their eggs. Blood-sucking female mosquitoes can spread a variety of diseases and are intermediate hosts for dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis and other pathogens. Mosquitoes are also dioecious, but they do not have phototropism and prefer darkness. After mating, the female mosquito lays eggs in the water that hatch into larvae. Mosquito larvae are mosquito larvae, which can live in fresh water or dirty water. Their diet is roughly the same as that of chironomid larvae, feeding on tiny organic debris, bacteria, and aquatic plant and animal remains in the water. After mating in the water, they emerge from the water to become adults, and sometimes fly in groups.

8. How to allow Chironomids to breed in farms?

1. Box production

First, make a collection box for chironomid adults and chironomid larvae. The size and number of the collection boxes should be determined according to the scale of chironomid larvae breeding. The frame of the collection box should be made of pure natural wood without odor. No other synthetic materials should be used to avoid the generation of chemical odor, which will affect the temptation of bait to chironomid adults and the reproduction and survival rate of chironomid larvae. The box body is fixed with transparent plastic cloth on all four sides. On one side of the box mouth, the plastic cloth is only nailed to one side above the box body to form a "curtain-like" box mouth. The three sides of the box mouth plastic cloth that are not nailed to the box body and the three sides corresponding to the box mouth are all affixed with Velcro, so that the box can be sealed in time after the chironomid adults are collected. The bottom of the box body is a wooden or iron "pool" with a depth of about 15 cm.

2. Chironomid collection

When collecting adult chironomids, add pure water and milk to the water tank in the collection box, and apply honey or milk to the inner wall of the collection box and the mesh or curtain hanging in the box. The water in the pool at the bottom of the box can maintain the humidity in the box. Milk and honey are both bait and food. It should be noted that whether it is milk or honey, it must be diluted, otherwise the adult chironomids will be stuck to it, which will not only make it unable to fly to find a mate, but also suffocate and die. The dilution concentration of milk and honey is about 3%.

Taking advantage of the photophobia of midges, during daytime collection, you can place the collection box in a pond with reeds and cattails to collect, and collect the boxes in the evening. For "bare water" ponds, you need to collect at night, and collect the boxes before dawn. When collecting at night, place the collection box by the water's edge of the pond, lift the plastic sheet at the box mouth, and lure the chironomids. To improve collection efficiency and increase the number of collections, you can illuminate the pond water surface and cover the collection box with a plate-like object. This way, the light at the collection box is relatively dark, and the chironomids will gather faster and more. When collecting the box, drop the curtain-like plastic sheet at the box mouth, and then lightly press the Velcro with your hand, and the collected chironomids will be sealed in the box and unable to escape.

3. Chironomid combination box

If the number of adult Chironomids in the collection box is insufficient or the density is too low, which affects the mating of males and females, you can take measures to combine the boxes to increase the probability of contact between males and females.

Wrap the two boxes to be merged with black curtains to make the light inside the boxes darker so that the chironomids will not fly out when the boxes are opened. Then open the two boxes, butt them together, take out the wrappings of the boxes, and under the condition of great light disparity, the adult chironomids will automatically fly to the merged box. If there are still some chironomids in the merged box, tap the box to drive them away. If the number of adult chironomids is still insufficient, the chironomid larvae that are caught or artificially cultivated, 2 to 3 cm long and about to pupate and emerge, can be placed in the water tank of the collection box. They will emerge into adult chironomids in 1 to 2 days. Strive to make the density of adult chironomids in the box reach 2,000 to 4,000 per cubic meter.

4. Breeding in boxes

To improve the fertilization rate of adult chironomids and increase the number of reproductive larvae, not only is it necessary to have an appropriate chironomid density, but also to create a suitable "living" environment for the adult chironomids.

① Temperature. The suitable temperature for the reproduction of adult midges is 23-25℃. If the temperature is lower than 20℃ or higher than 28℃, the fertilization rate and reproduction will be seriously affected. There are many ways to control the temperature in the box. You can put the collection box in a constant temperature room or put a light bulb in it for lighting. No matter which measure is taken, the temperature in the box should be measured every 1-2 hours.

② Humidity. Chironomids love water by nature, so a dry environment will greatly reduce their reproductive capacity. The relative humidity of the environment in the box should be above 80%, and the optimal relative humidity is about 90%. Spraying and water tank heating methods can be used to increase the humidity of the box. Use a sprayer to spray pure water directly into the collection box. The water temperature should be around 25°C. Do not spray water mist with a water temperature that is too low. In addition, try not to spray water mist on the parts of the box where chironomid adults are densely populated, so as not to disturb the reproduction of chironomids. Use a lamp or other heating device to heat the water pool at the bottom of the collection box to speed up the evaporation of water in the water tank and increase the humidity of the space in the box, but the water temperature of the water pool must not exceed 32°C. If the temperature exceeds 32°C, the chironomid adults, larvae and eggs in the water tank will be in danger of death.

③ Feeding. When you find that the milk water in the water tank is insufficient, or the hanging curtain shows signs of drying, you should add milk water in time, but you cannot remove the curtain, because the curtain is often attached to the adult chironomids. You can soak the new curtain with diluted honey or milk liquid and hang it near the original curtain to attract the adult chironomids to come and feed.

5. Egg mass attachment

When chironomids lay eggs naturally, they lay eggs on dark and moist attachments close to the water surface, including the walls of ditches, ponds, stems of water plants, and the edges of branches and wooden boards floating on the water surface, with the handle-shaped part of the egg mass attached a few millimeters above the water surface. Based on this feature, the water level of the "pool" at the bottom of the box can be kept at about 10 cm, leaving about 5 cm of egg-laying space, and a small wooden stick with a diameter of 2 cm is placed in the "pool" of the box for adult chironomids to lay eggs and attach.

As long as all conditions are suitable, the chironomids can mate, lay eggs and hatch. Generally, the eggs can hatch into larvae in 2 to 4 days, and the larvae can grow to 3 to 5 mm in 5 to 7 days. At this time, pond culture or indoor culture can be carried out according to the breeding conditions.