Burrowing Mayfly vs Midge
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Burrowing Mayfly | Midge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hexagenia limbata | Chironomus plumosus |
| Order | Ephemeroptera | Diptera |
| Family | Ephemeridae | Chironomidae |
| Size | 18-32 mm body | 8-12 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Omnivores | Detritivores |
| Regions | North America | Europe, Asia, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Burrowing Mayfly
Creates massive synchronized emergences so dense they appear on weather radar. Billions emerge simultaneously from lake bottoms where nymphs burrowed for up to two years.
Did You Know?
Mayfly emergences along the Mississippi River are so massive they show up on Doppler weather radar — billions of insects rising simultaneously look like approaching thunderstorms.
Midge
A delicate, mosquito-like fly with feathery antennae that forms enormous mating swarms at dusk. Despite their appearance, non-biting midges are completely harmless.
Did You Know?
Midge swarms can be so dense near lakes that they appear on weather radar, and the biomass of emerging adults can exceed one ton per hectare of lake surface per year.