Cheese Skipper vs Biting Midge
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cheese Skipper | Biting Midge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Piophila casei | Culicoides impunctatus |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Piophilidae | Ceratopogonidae |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 1-3 mm |
| Habitat | Caves | Indoors |
| Diet | Omnivores | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Cosmopolitan | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Cheese Skipper
A small fly whose larvae infest stored cheese, cured meats, and other protein-rich foods. Larvae can leap up to 15 cm by curling and snapping their bodies.
Did You Know?
Sardinian casu marzu cheese is deliberately infested with its larvae as a delicacy.
Biting Midge
A tiny, gray, blood-sucking fly notorious in Scotland and Scandinavia as the Highland midge. Swarms can be so dense they form visible clouds and drive people indoors.
Did You Know?
Highland midges are estimated to cost the Scottish tourism industry over 300 million pounds annually and were reportedly a factor in slowing the construction of the West Highland Railway.