Tushar T. Khandagale, Anant M. Gaikwad, Amol S. Thosar, Ravindra S. Chati, Aniket D. Chandanshive, Shivdarshan P. Ukarande, Shivaji D. Waghmare and Surekha D. Chate
Abstract
Chironomus larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae) are among the most widely used freshwater invertebrates in sediment ecotoxicology due to their ecological ubiquity, sensitivity to sediment-associated contaminants, and well-established laboratory culture protocols. Their inclusion in internationally standardized toxicity guidelines has positioned Chironomus spp. as reliable model organisms for environmental risk assessment. In parallel, recent studies have explored additional biological characteristics of Chironomus larvae, including molecular stress responses, genomic resources, underwater silk secretion, chitin-rich exuviae, and detritivorous feeding behavior. These features have prompted interest in applications beyond ecotoxicology, such as biomaterials and waste bioconversion; however, supporting evidence remains largely experimental and uneven in quality. This review critically evaluates current research on Chironomus larvae across ecotoxicology, molecular biology, and emerging bio-based applications. Emphasis is placed on distinguishing validated methodologies from exploratory research, identifying methodological and regulatory constraints, and assessing environmental relevance. By synthesizing evidence across biological organization levels, this review highlights realistic opportunities, key limitations, and priority research directions while avoiding overstatement of translational readiness.