Belkin's Dune Tabanid Fly vs Phantom Midge

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Belkin's Dune Tabanid Fly Phantom Midge
Scientific Name Brennania belkini Chaoborus crystallinus
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Tabanidae Chaoboridae
Size 1-1.5 cm 8-10 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Ponds & Lakes
Diet Predators Predators
Regions United States Europe, North America
Conservation Endangered Least Concern

Belkin's Dune Tabanid Fly

A rare horse fly known only from the El Segundo sand dunes in Los Angeles County. Larvae develop in the sand and adults are seldom encountered.

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Did You Know?

Most of the El Segundo dunes were destroyed to build Los Angeles International Airport.

Phantom Midge

A nearly transparent midge whose larvae are planktonic predators in lakes. Larvae migrate vertically in the water column daily to avoid fish predation.

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Did You Know?

Its glass-clear larvae are almost invisible in water, earning the common name glassworm.