The Community of Insects in a Patch of Woodland Mud

Crisp, G.; Lloyd, Ll.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2311.1954.tb00766.x

Cited by 24 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(14 reference statements)

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“…Given all the threats that insects must deal with to live around water, we find that drain flies are particularly well adapted to handle them. Of the nearly 2900 described species of drain flies worldwide 46 , 47 , most live in aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats including: in wet woodland patches 48 , near leaking septic lines, in wet shaded areas where mold and algae grow 49 , and in our homes. In this study we report on our investigations into the micro- and nano-structures found on the dense array of hairs that cover drain fly bodies and endow them with superhydrophobicity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How drain flies manage to almost never get washed away

Speirs

Mahadik

Thoroddsen

2020

Sci Rep

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Drain flies, Pshycoda spp. (Order Diptera, Family Psychodidae), commonly reside in our homes, annoying us in our bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. They like to stay near drains where they lay their eggs and feed on microorganisms and liquid carbohydrates found in the slime that builds up over time. Though they generally behave very sedately, they react quite quickly when threatened with water. A squirt from the sink induces them to fly away, seemingly unaffected, and flushing the toilet with flies inside does not necessarily whisk them down. We find that drain flies’ remarkable ability to evade such potentially lethal threats does not stem primarily from an evolved behavioral response, but rather from a unique hair covering with a hierarchical roughness. This covering, that has never been previously explored, imparts superhydrophobicity against large droplets and pools and antiwetting properties against micron-sized droplets and condensation. We examine how this hair covering equips them to take advantage of the relevant fluid dynamics and flee water threats in domestic and natural environments including: millimetric-sized droplets, mist, waves, and pools of water. Our findings elucidate drain flies’ astounding ability to cope with a wide range of water threats and almost never get washed down the drain.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How drain flies manage to almost never get washed away

Speirs

Mahadik

Thoroddsen

2020

Sci Rep

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“…(e.g. Crisp & Lloyd 1954;Pankratova 1954;Hudson 1987;Wrubleski 1987;Lundström et al 2009aLundström et al , 2009bEkrem et al 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chironomidae of semiaquatic lake shore habitats in the Karelian Isthmus (northwestern Russia)

Пржиборо

Paasivirta²

2012

Fauna Norv.

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Przhiboro A. and Paasivirta L. 2012. Chironomidae of semiaquatic lake shore habitats in the Karelian Isthmus (northwestern Russia). Fauna norvegica 31: 87-94.Shores of lentic waters are poorly studied as habitats of Chironomidae. We investigated floating shore marsh surrounding the lakes Bol'shoe Rakovoe (Äyräpäänjärvi or Eteläjärvi) and Okhotnich'e (Muolaanlampi), shallow mesotrophic wetlands in the Karelian Isthmus. Our research aimed to identify species structure of immature chironomid assemblages in this peculiar habitat and to provide their quantitative assessment. Five sites of the water margin zone (a 20-m part of floating marsh adjoining the lake littoral) were studied using two techniques, quantitative samples taken with a grab-net and laboratory rearings of adults from substrata. Thirty-two samples were taken in July and October; 2970 emerging chironomid adults were identified. Nineteen species were found, 3 of Tanypodinae, 10 of Orthocladiinae and 6 of Chironominae. Tavastia yggdrasilia, Thienemanniella minuscula and Polypedilum trigonus are first recorded from Russia, and 8 more species, from NW Russia. Orthocladiinae accounted for over 99% emerging adults, with 3 species predominant and numerous on all sites, Paraphaenocladius impensus, Limnophyes minimus and L. natalensis. Species structure is discussed and compared with the data on similar habitats. Chironomid larvae were most numerous macroinvertebrates. Mean abundance of chironomid immatures varied from 1246 to 32060 ind./m 2 , mean biomass, 0.104 to 3.591 g(wet weight)/m 2 , depending on site and season. In July, Chironomidae comprised 3-15% of Diptera biomass and 1-5% of macroinvertebrates biomass; in October, 13-49% and 7-20%, respectively.

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“…The ability of larger animals to ingest meiofaunal organisms has been recognized for several decades. Crisp & Lloyd (1954) analyzed the gut contents of several dipteran larvae and found meiofauna, mainly copepods. Similar findings were reported in fish (Bruun, 1949;Bregnballe, 1962).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are meiofauna a standard meal for macroinvertebrates and juvenile fish?

et al. 2020

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Due to the lack of empirical data, meiofauna are often underestimated as prey for freshwater animals and are commonly regarded as trophic dead ends. Here we present a synthesis of recent evidence showing that meiofauna are significant as prey, not only for many benthic macroinvertebrates (chironomids, shrimps, and flatworms) but also for juveniles of widespread freshwater bottom-feeding fish species (e.g., carps, gudgeons, catfish). In this review, we focus on the following questions: (1) Which groups consume meiofauna? (2) In what amounts are meiofauna ingested? (3) Does predatory feeding behavior influence natural meiofaunal communities? (4) Are meiofauna organisms actively ingested or are they bycatch? To answer these questions, we focused on studies that included gut/feces analyses of potential predators and empirical investigations conducted in the laboratory (e.g., functional response experiments and microcosm studies) and in the field (enclosure/ exclosure settings). We were able to demonstrate that meiofauna taxa are consumed in high numbers by a wide range of larger organisms. This predation can significantly shape meiofaunal communities, by reducing the abundance, biomass, and production of certain members of the investigated assemblages. However, in most cases, it remains unclear if there is an active predation of meiofauna or a passive ingestion by unselective feeding.

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The Community of Insects in a Patch of Woodland Mud

Cited by 24 publications

References 21 publications

How drain flies manage to almost never get washed away

How drain flies manage to almost never get washed away

Chironomidae of semiaquatic lake shore habitats in the Karelian Isthmus (northwestern Russia)

Are meiofauna a standard meal for macroinvertebrates and juvenile fish?

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