Polypedilum vanderplanki or the sleeping chironomid, is a dipteran in the family Chironomidae (non-biting midges).

It occurs in the semi-arid regions of the African continent (e.g. northern Nigeria and Uganda).

In the dehydrated state the larvae become impervious to many extreme environmental conditions, and can survive temperatures from 3 K to up to 375 K, very high (7000 gray) levels of gamma-rays, and exposure to vacuum.

[1][2] It is one of few metazoans that can withstand near complete desiccation (anhydrobiosis) in order to survive adverse environmental conditions.

[3][4] Late Embryo Abundant (LEA), anti-oxidant, and heat-shock proteins may also be involved in survival.