1The bright red aquatic larva of a non-biting midge, the blood of which contains haemoglobin that allows it to live in poorly oxygenated water.
Genus Chironomus, family Chironomidae
 Example sentencesExamples
-  They were kept in tanks at a water temperature of 11°C and fed on frozen bloodworms.
 -  We get everything from herbivorous reptiles to aquatic animals that eat bloodworms.
 -  With a few truly bizarre exceptions (such as the chironomid bloodworms that breed in sewage), insects don't even have hemoglobin.
 -  You'll need to check to see if bloodworm is allowed as it is banned on some venues.
 -  Most commonly they will feed heavily on bloodworm, a little on freshwater shrimps and occasionally upon snails and mussels.