Chironomidae pupae, Heesch, Netherlands

Several weeks ago, I created some mini ponds in our small garden, effectively just large buckets filled with water from a local pond, and then dugg into the ground until the edge levels the garden floor. I don't have any big plans with it, just wanted to see what develops and what it attracts. At the very least, it's already a popular drinking spot for both birds and bees.

Christine got me on the track to more actively check for aquatic insect life, and how to recognize it. This allowed me to find these pupae of Chironomidae (non-biting midge). They were floating on the surface as tiny, almost transparent little tubes.

I poured them into a new habitat, ahem...an empty Heineken glass, for this photo.