Phantom Midge Larvae (chaoborus)

These tiny creatures are always found when pond dipping at Scotswood Garden. They tend to be less than one centimetre long, although some species can be as long as two centimetres.

They are sometimes known as glassworms. Both names come from the fact that they have see-through bodies. We prefer phantom!

Even though they are very small, they are predators as well as prey in the pond. They eat anything smaller than themselves, namely water fleas and maybe the odd bloodworm. They have large jaws with which to catch prey. Obviously because of their size, they are also prey for lots of other creatures in the pond, although their transparent bodies help them to stay camouflaged!

They live in the pond until they transform into adult flies.