This month we take a look at an important group of insects known in some places as ‘buzzers’ in others as ‘chironomids’. Here we will refer to them by another of their common names – midges.
It is estimated there are over 10,000 species of midges worldwide and they are highly important throughout the ecosystems where they live. Most midges have aquatic (juvenile) and terrestrial (adult) stages of their life, and they are important food for freshwater fish at all stages of their life cycle. Midges come in many sizes, forms and colours, some resemble mosquitos, but lack the biting mouth parts that so often annoy us humans when mosquitos are about.
They all belong to the family Chironomidae and include the largest terrestrial animal in Antarctica – that’s right, a 2-6mm long insect is the largest entirely terrestrial animal on an entire continent!
It is the midges that have an aquatic stage of their lifecycle which are of the greatest interest to fly fishers. Trout, and other freshwater species, can prey heavily on these tiny insects at all stages of their lifecycle. Midge larvae and pupae are often imitated by fly tiers in lakes, after ice-off and during summer months, or by anglers fishing tailwater rivers during the depths of winter. Due to the large variety and life strategies of midges, fishing the midge hatch can be conducted at any time of year depending on the location, even dry fly fishing for midges can be fun when conditions are right.
Midges provide food for many species of animals and provide important services to the ecosystems they inhabit. So next time you’re fishing in freshwater – keep a lookout for midges and don’t forget to tie a few up at the tying bench when you get a chance.
Learn more about techniques for fly fishing with chironomid patterns in this instructional video from Silver Bow Fly Shop.
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