The dipteran family Chironomidae is the most widely distributed and frequently most abundant group of insects in freshwater, with representatives in both terrestrial and marine environments. This book provides a `state of the art' account of the family including both pure and applied aspects of research.
Morphology; systematics; biogeography; biology of the eggs and first-instar larvae; the habitats of chironomid larvae; larval food and feeding behaviour; the pupa and events leading to eclosion; behaviour and ecology of adults; life cycles and population dynamics; production ecology; species interactions and community structure; nuisance, economic impact and possibilities for control; medical significance; classification of water bodies and pollution; chironomids as indicators of past environmental change; chironmidae as food; conclusions.
...well-organized..well-edited...comprehensive overview... - Journal of Paleolimnology