Winter distribution and diet ofPagastiella ostansa(Diptera: Chironomidae) were investigated in Big Brower Lake, Kent Co., Michigan. Big Brower Lake is a small (34.4 ha), shallow (Zmax=7.5 m), meso-to-eutrophic lake.P. ostansalarvae were found at only two littoral zone stations characterized by soft, organic sediments andCharasp. beds. LarvalP. ostansagut content analysis compared with sedimentary algal assemblages indicated selective foraging and ingestion of large, benthic, pennate diatoms. Winter diet included the diatomsNavicula oblonga, Navicula cryptocephala, Nitzschiasp. 2,Stauroneis anceps, Stauroneis phoenicenteron, andPinnularia maior, whereas more common blue-green algae and small and colonial diatoms present in the sediment assemblage were not ingested.