BIODIVERSITY OF CHIRONOMIDAE (DIPTERA) FROM UDAIPUR REGION (INDIA)

Present study was conducted at four sampling sites viz.: Fatehsagar Lake, Pichola Lake, Udaisagar Lake and Ayad River at Udaipur region, India. Biodiversity analysis of Chironomids up to generic level showed that Chironomids are most diverse at Udaisagar Lake. Udaisagar provides dominant site for Chironomids. Complete dominance of Chironominae in all four sampling sites is related to their adaptability and survival in low oxygen environments due to presence of hemoglobin analog in their bodies. Genus Chironomus was found to be absent in Fatehsagar and Pichola Lake. This study also refutes the myth that every red colored larvae collected for study of polytene chromosome in this area is Chironomus.