Distribution of Midge Remains (Diptera: Chironomidae) in Surficial Lake Sediments in New England

A survey of larval midge remains from surficial sediments in 37 New England lakes was undertaken in order to relate midge distributions to environmental factors. The lakes are located along a transect from northern New Hampshire to southern Connecticut. The midges proved to be a very diverse group of insects in these freshwater habitats. A total of 65 chironomid taxa were recovered. Canonical correspondence analyses indicated that the environmental variables which best explain the distribution of chironomid taxa were mean July air temperature, percent sediment organic matter, pH, and lake depth. This knowledge about the relationship between midge distribution and mean July air temperature can be applied to midge assemblages preserved in older lacustrine sequences to improve our understanding of past environmental conditions in the region.