Biting Midge (No-See-Um) vs Fairy Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Biting Midge (No-See-Um) | Fairy Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Culicoides imicola | Kikiki huna |
| Order | Diptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Ceratopogonidae | Mymaridae |
| Size | 1-3 mm | 0.13-0.18 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Africa, Middle East, southern Europe, Asia | North America, Oceania |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
Biting Midge (No-See-Um)
A tiny biting midge that is the primary Old World vector of bluetongue virus and African horse sickness virus. It breeds in moist, organically enriched soil and is crepuscular, biting at dawn and dusk. Its northward spread into Europe has introduced bluetongue to previously unaffected areas.
Did You Know?
Climate change has allowed this midge to expand northward into Europe, bringing bluetongue disease to countries that had never experienced it.
Fairy Wasp
One of the smallest known insects in the world at just 0.15 millimeters long.
Did You Know?
It is smaller than some single-celled protozoans.