Invert Tuesdays: Bloodworms

You have probably seen our next invertebrate before, but what you see is different from what we see under the microscope. In the Order Diptera and the Family Chironomidae these non-biting midges, or sometimes called bloodworms can be an eye-catching red or even pink colour. They have a high hemoglobin-like substance that allows them to survive in low oxygen environments. We find them in almost every sample because they are capable of not only living in healthy environments, but also in places that are degraded and is even harder for other invertebrates to survive in. When we look at them under the microscope, they’ve lost their colour due to preservation and so are instead coloured either tan or green! Before they become an adult, they have a pupal stage which we often find in samples as well. In the image where it looks like it’s wearing a fuzzy hat, you can see the antennae and legs developing! Such fascinating creatures!