The Modern Distribution of Midge Flies (Chironomidae; Insecta: Diptera) in Eastern Sierra Nevada, California, Lakes: Potential for Paleoclimatic Reconstruction

Chironomids are non-biting midge flies belonging to the order Diptera. They are ubiquitous and frequently the most abundant insect found in freshwater ecosystems. Midge flies have three characteristics that are useful in paleoecological studies; they have relatively short lifecycles, the adults are mobile, and the larvae possess chitinous head capsules (Figure 1). The chitinized larval head capsules of midge flies are readily preserved in lake sediment and therefore are easily recovered and identified (Figure 2). The mobility of adult midge flies along with their short life cycle allow them to respond to climate change very quickly; as a result, midge flies are likely to have distributions in equilibrium with climate (Walker and MacDonald 1995).