Dimidiata Deer Fly vs Phantom Midge
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Dimidiata Deer Fly | Phantom Midge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysops dimidiata | Chaoborus crystallinus |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Tabanidae | Chaoboridae |
| Size | 8-11 mm | 8-10 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | West and Central Africa | Europe, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Dimidiata Deer Fly
A medium-sized deer fly with distinctly banded wings, found in West African rainforests. It serves as a secondary vector of Loa loa alongside C. silacea. Larvae develop in muddy swamp soils near forest streams.
Did You Know?
Wood smoke fires in villages are used traditionally to repel this fly, which is strongly attracted to dark moving objects.
Phantom Midge
A nearly transparent midge whose larvae are planktonic predators in lakes. Larvae migrate vertically in the water column daily to avoid fish predation.
Did You Know?
Its glass-clear larvae are almost invisible in water, earning the common name glassworm.