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Image ID: 10008905
[10008905]
Caption: The flightless midge, Eretmoptera murphyi, was accidentally introduced to Signy Island (South Orkney Is, Antarctica) in soil from the Falkland Islands in 1967. Since then it has spread to an area of over 7,500 square metres and occurs in densities of up to several thousand per square metre. The larvae can survive freezing and the adults lay around 80 eggs at a time. The flightless midge is one of the first known alien species to have become established in Antarctica. There is evidence to suggest that regional climate change may increase the reproductive success of this aliens species.
Keywords: Antarctica | Eretmoptera murphyi | Terrestrial | alien species | flightless midge | fly
Location:
Season: 2006/2007
Photographer: Pete Bucktrout
Image size (pixels): 3085 x 2181