Midge vs Creeping Water Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Midge | Creeping Water Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chironomus plumosus | Ilyocoris cimicoides |
| Order | Diptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Chironomidae | Naucoridae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 12-16 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Detritivores | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North America | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Creeping Water Bug
A robust aquatic bug that crawls along pond bottoms and delivers a painful bite.
Did You Know?
Its forelegs are powerfully built raptorial limbs for seizing prey.