We carried out one of our routine surveys of the creatures living in the ponds in the Sanctuary and the corner of the Moorings. These are part of wider ranging surveys (chemical analysis etc) to help check on water quality in our lakes and ponds. These are great fun at the time and then hours of work attempting to identify the various creatures - some very small. Here a few of my favourites plus the ID sheets as a record. The images are taken as quickly as possible after sampling and returned to the water which doesn't give a lot of time for perfecting their 'portraits' but hopefully allow fairly accurate identifications for the survey data. The first image is a phantom midge, family Chaoboridae, known for its predatory behaviour and unique adaptations. They are nearly transparent, which helps them camouflage in the water. The two air sacs maintain their position in the water.
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