Brine Fly vs Rose Midge

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Brine Fly Rose Midge
Scientific Name Ephydra hians Dasineura rhodophaga
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Ephydridae Cecidomyiidae
Size 4-7 mm 1-2 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Underground
Diet Herbivores Gall Makers
Regions North America North America, Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Brine Fly

A fly that thrives in the extremely alkaline waters of Mono Lake.

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Did You Know?

It carries an air bubble underwater and was a staple food of the Kutzadikaa Paiute people.

Rose Midge

A tiny gall midge whose larvae develop inside rose buds, causing them to blacken and fail to open. Adults are delicate yellowish flies barely visible to the naked eye.

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Did You Know?

A single rose bud can contain dozens of tiny orange larvae that destroy the flower before it ever opens.