Chironomidae have anterior and posterior parapods with hooks. Which option best describes this feature?

• A. Hooks on both anterior and posterior parapods
• B. Spines on dorsal thorax
• C. No parapods
• D. Suction cups on parapods

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how these larvae attach themselves to their environment. Chironomidae larvae live in sediment and often in flowing water, so having hooks on both the front and back parapods provides a strong hold in the substrate. Those hooks act like anchors, preventing the larva from being washed away while it moves or feeds. That combination—hooks on both anterior and posterior parapods—directly describes their attachment strategy and is a clear, species-typical feature.

Spines on the dorsal thorax would be a different anatomical trait not related to parapods. No parapods would eliminate this anchoring mechanism, and suction cups would imply a different mode of attachment than hooks. So the hooked parapods on both ends best fits the biology of Chironomidae larvae.