Methods and growth chambers are described which permit in situ estimates of the growth rates of chironomid larvae inhabiting litter accumulations in lotic habitats. Instantaneous growth rates (IGRs) for larvae of different sizes ranged from 0.01 to 0.24 mg mg-l ash-free dry mass (AFDM) d-l at stream temperatures of 2.9”15.1”C. IGRs were significantly and linearly related to temperature. Regress...