My aquatic insect sorters/identifiers this past summer were quite excited when they found a number of mayfly larvae parasitized by chironomid larvae. All sizes of chironomid larvae were present, from small ones to attached pupae, and all were attached at the base of the abdomen below the developing wingpads, and only to this species of heptageniid - several other heptageniid species were present. This species of mayfly typically emerges in early July here, so their development has been delayed, if not eventually terminated??? A chironomid expert in Maine, John Tipton, is working with them, but the chironomid is probably undescribed.
Anyone with any further observations/information on this type of association?