Ant-decapitating Fly vs Rosette Gall Midge
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Ant-decapitating Fly | Rosette Gall Midge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pseudacteon tricuspis | Dasineura urticae |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Phoridae | Cecidomyiidae |
| Size | 1-2 mm | 1.5-2.5 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Gall Makers |
| Regions | South America, introduced to North America for biocontrol | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Ant-decapitating Fly
A minute parasitoid fly that targets fire ants by injecting eggs into their bodies. The developing larva migrates to the ant's head, eventually causing it to fall off.
Did You Know?
The larva releases enzymes that dissolve the ant's head contents, and the head eventually falls off to serve as a pupation chamber.
Rosette Gall Midge
A tiny midge that causes distinctive rosette galls on the tips of stinging nettles. The growing tip is stunted and swollen. Very common wherever nettles grow.
Did You Know?
The distinctive bunched rosette galls on nettle tips are so common that most people have seen them without knowing the cause.