Bloodworm (Non-biting midge larva)
Scientific Name: Chironomus plumosus
Order & Family: Order: Diptera, Family: Chironomidae
Size: Typically 10-25 mm in length.
Natural Habitat
Stagnant or slow-moving freshwater bodies with muddy bottoms and low oxygen levels.
Diet & Feeding
Scavengers that feed on organic debris, algae, and microscopic organisms in the sediment.
Behavior Patterns
They use hemoglobin to store oxygen, giving them their red color; they live in silk tubes in the mud and undergo complete metamorphosis into flies.
Risks & Benefits
Crucial food source for fish and waterfowl; can indicate poor water quality but pose no physical risk to humans.
Identified on: 2/23/2026