Dance Fly with Feathered Legs vs Biting Midge
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Dance Fly with Feathered Legs | Biting Midge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rhamphomyia sulcata | Culicoides impunctatus |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Empididae | Ceratopogonidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 1-3 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Indoors |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Dance Fly with Feathered Legs
A small dance fly where females have distinctive feathered or pennate leg scales used to attract males. Females inflate their abdomen to appear larger during swarming displays.
Did You Know?
In a rare reversal, females are the ornamented sex, using feathered legs and inflated abdomens to compete for males.
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.