Congo Floor Maggot Fly vs Midge
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Congo Floor Maggot Fly | Midge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Auchmeromyia senegalensis | Chironomus plumosus |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Calliphoridae | Chironomidae |
| Size | 10-14 mm | 8-12 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Detritivores |
| Regions | Sub-Saharan Africa | Europe, Asia, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Congo Floor Maggot Fly
A yellowish-brown blow fly whose larvae are unique among Diptera in being temporary ectoparasites that feed on sleeping humans. Larvae live in the dirt floors of huts and emerge at night to feed on the blood of sleeping people, then retreat into the floor. Adults do not bite.
Did You Know?
It is the only known fly whose larvae feed on human blood like a bedbug, making it a unique case of larval hematophagy.
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.