High-altitude Midge vs Painted Hickory Borer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | High-altitude Midge | Painted Hickory Borer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Diamesa latitarsis | Megacyllene caryae |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Chironomidae | Cerambycidae |
| Size | 2-4 mm body length | 14-22 mm |
| Habitat | Mountains | Woodlands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Alps, Carpathians, Scandinavia | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
High-altitude Midge
A small, dark midge whose larvae inhabit the coldest alpine streams. It has unusually broad tarsi adapted for walking on wet rocks.
Did You Know?
Its broad feet allow it to grip wet rocks in fast-flowing glacial streams.
Painted Hickory Borer
A handsome cerambycid with white zigzag markings on dark brown elytra, breeding in dead hickory and oak in eastern North America. Adults appear in spring, unlike the autumn-active locust borer. It is frequently found on freshly cut firewood.
Did You Know?
This species and the locust borer are near-perfect lookalikes but are separated by season: spring vs. autumn emergence.