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Dixid midge

Guide to New Zealand's freshwater invertebrates

Dixid midge ( Dixidae : Paradixa )

Larva (with parasitic mites)
Pupa

Diagnostic features

Paradixa is a member of the dixid midge family. The dixids have small, worm-like larvae that are often bent into a U-shape when live. There are flat, hair-fringed lobes on the last abdominal segment, and the head is often tipped backwards. In Paradixa there are no oval arrangements of fine black hairs on the abdomen (Nothodixa has these hairs).

Typical habitats

Paradixa larvae are found just under the water surface along the margins of weedy streams, ponds and wetlands.

Feeding

Dixids use brush like mouthparts to capture drifting food such as algae and other micro-organisms.

Indicator value

Paradixa larvae are commonly found along the margins of wetlands and weedy streams of moderate to good water quality. They have moderate to high tolerance values of 4 (hard bottom sites) and 8.5 (soft bottom sites).