Arctic Mosquito vs Latrine Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Mosquito | Latrine Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aedes nigripes | Fannia scalaris |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Culicidae | Fanniidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Wetlands |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Scavengers |
| Regions | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, northern Scandinavia, Siberia | 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.
Latrine Fly
A small fly that breeds in excrement and decaying organic matter in latrines and drains. It can cause urogenital myiasis when larvae enter the urinary tract.
Did You Know?
Its flattened, spiny larvae are among the few fly species documented to cause urinary myiasis in humans.