Author(s): P.H. Langton, H.Visser

Version: 1.0

Platform(s): Hybrid CD

System requirements:

Windows 95/98 and higher

Mac 9 -10.4 ("Classic" is required)

The Chironomidae, a cosmopolitan family of small nematocerous flies, is represented by some 1,300 described valid species in the West Palaearctic Region. Many species are widely distributed and the fast majority have aquatic juvenile stages which, on average, comprise one third of the invertebrate species in freshwater habitats. This usual abundance, and the fact that a number of species are pollution-tolerant, make chironomids ideal indicator species in monitoring the quality of surface waters. The CD-ROM offers a key to the pupal exuviae belonging to nearly 1,000 species and forms. All West Palaearctic species are included with complete and up-to-date synonymy and distribution data. Key and species descriptions are illustrated by more than 1,500 drawings and the text is hyperlinked to a glossary of scientific terms.