Arctic Chironomid Midge vs Giant Lacewing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Chironomid Midge | Giant Lacewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Diamesa mendotae | Polystoechotes punctata |
| Order | Diptera | Neuroptera |
| Family | Chironomidae | Ithonidae |
| Size | 3-6 mm | 40-75 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Detritivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia, alpine regions worldwide | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
Arctic Chironomid Midge
A slender, non-biting midge with long legs and feathery antennae in males. Larvae are among the first invertebrates to colonize glacial meltwater streams. Adults can be active at temperatures just above freezing.
Did You Know?
Diamesa midges can fly and mate at temperatures as low as minus 6 degrees Celsius, making them among the most cold-tolerant flying insects.
Giant Lacewing
Once widespread across North America, it vanished from the eastern US by the 1950s. A single specimen was rediscovered in Walmart parking lot in Arkansas in 2012 after 50 years.
Did You Know?
This giant lacewing was thought extinct in eastern North America for 50 years — until a single specimen was collected at a Walmart parking lot in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2012.