Hessian Fly vs Pedician Crane Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hessian Fly | Pedician Crane Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Mayetiola destructor | Pedicia rivosa |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Cecidomyiidae | Pediciidae |
| Size | 2-4 mm | 18-25 mm body length |
| Habitat | Farmland | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Gall Makers | Herbivores |
| Regions | Cosmopolitan - originally Eurasia, now worldwide | Europe, Northern Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Hessian Fly
A tiny dark gall midge that is one of the most destructive pests of wheat and barley worldwide. Adults resemble small dark mosquitoes and live for only a few days.
Did You Know?
Named after Hessian soldiers in the American Revolution who supposedly brought it to North America in straw bedding.
Pedician Crane Fly
A large, mottled-winged crane fly whose predatory larvae hunt invertebrates in wet mud and stream margins. Adults are often found resting on vegetation near flowing water.
Did You Know?
Unlike most crane fly larvae that eat decaying matter, its larvae are voracious predators that ambush worms and insect larvae in mud.