Emergence of Chironomidae from springs in the central High Plains Region of the US

Collections of chironomid pupal exuviae from 25 springs, springbrooks, and spring-fed streams in the C High Plains of the US were analyzed to determine taxonomic similarity and emergence patterns among springs. 113 species in 70 genera and eight subfamilies/tribes were collected. Emergence species richness was low to moderate and species diversity was low for individual springs. Spring type appears to influence species composition the greatest, with Orthocladiinae constituting a greater proportion of total taxa in rheocrene type springs and Chironominae being more abundant in limnocrene springs. Species of Diamesinae were collected in greater numbers in larger spring-fed streams. Results indicate that emergence of Chironomidae is strongly influenced by the physical structure of the habitat. -from Authors