We present preliminary findings of the effects nematode infestation on winter-active chironomid biology, and how short-term temperature spikes could affect host-parasite interactions. Results are limited but indicate nematodes may infest communities significantly host biology. Further research insects should include investigations into parasitism to better understand climate change will surviva...

Non-biting chironomid midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) may cause sensitization and allergic reactions in humans and have recently been identified as a potential health problem in Swedish municipal sewage treatment plants. To investigate, on a pilot scale, the allergenic potential of chironomids in sewage workers, all workers (n = 8) at a sewage treatment plant and local controls (n = 16) complete...

In most freshwater ecosystems, aquatic insects are dominant in terms of diversity; however, there is a disproportionately low number of records of alien species when compared to other freshwater organisms. The Chironomidae is one aquatic insect family that includes some examples of alien species around the world. During a study on aquatic insects in Amazonas state (Brazil), we collected specime...

There is a sparsity of long, continuous palaeotemperature records for the last glacial period in central Europe, particularly interval corresponding to Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 4 and 3. Here we present new, ca. 50-thousand year (ka)-long chironomid record from Füramoos, southern Germany, covering MIS 5a 3 that use examine lake development then quantitatively reconstruct mean July air tempera...