Arctic Mosquito vs Frit Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Mosquito | Frit Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aedes nigripes | Oscinella frit |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Culicidae | Chloropidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 1.5-2 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Farmland |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, northern Scandinavia, Siberia | Europe, temperate worldwide |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Arctic Mosquito
A large, dark-bodied mosquito common across the Arctic tundra. Females emerge in enormous swarms after snowmelt to blood-feed on caribou and other mammals. Adults have dark scales and pale-banded legs.
Did You Know?
Arctic mosquito swarms can be so dense they have been documented driving caribou to stampede across the tundra.
Frit Fly
A tiny fly that is a major pest of oat crops and ryegrass. Larvae bore into plant stems causing 'dead heart'. Named from the Swedish word for grain. Multiple generations per year.
Did You Know?
Despite being only 1.5mm long, it can destroy entire crops of oats by killing the growing shoot inside each stem.