It may be female Chironomid and there are certainly some that live in
brackish of fully salt water. Halocladius varians is quite common along the
Sussex coast as is Thalassosmitia thalassophila. The later, a small black
insect, often swarms around seaweed on rocks and breakwaters when the tide
goes out.

One of the most remarkable is Clunio marinus, again sometimes quite common
in Sussex at low tide. The tiny males fly about small rock pools, often
skating on the surface, whereas the females are wingless and usually hidden
in crevices but can be found by following the males.

I am not sure if anyone knows what happens to these intertidal insects when
the water comes in. Some believe they complete mating in the time
available, others that they might survive in air pockets (unlikely, I
think). I did once keep a male T. thalassophila and it lived for several
days, so they may go somewhere out of harm's way.

It reminds me of the smoke flies, Microsania spp. (Diptera: PLatypezidae)
that appear in our garden if we have a summer bonfire. They are well-known
in their predeliction for smoke, but are very rarely caught anywhere else
and I believe the early stages are still unknown, though they may breed in
fungi. They will, however, sometimes turn up in some quantities within a
very few minutes if a fire is lit. The males swarm in dense smoke that we
would find quite suffocating, and follow the column if it shifts in the
wind, but this strange habit makes an excellent protection from hungry
birds.

Patrick Roper



> -----Original Message-----
> From: British Marine Life Study Society [mailto:Glaucus@...]
> Sent: 24 August 2005 01:19
> To: british_insects@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [british_insects] Wrong IDs
>
>
> Hello,
>
> I expect it is a Chironomidae ?
> http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Midge080.jpg
>
> Although, I am sure I have seen them before, it struck me as strange that
> they were on the surface film of full salinity seawater at Widewater.
>
> Location: Widewater
> http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Widewater2005.html
>
> Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List (Microsoft Internet Explorer
> recommended
> for this page.)
> http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2005.html
>
>
> Cheers
>
> Andy Horton
> glaucus@...
> Adur Valley (West Sussex) Nature Notes
> http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2005.html
> Adur Valley Nature Notes: August 2005
> http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Aug2005.html
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