Midge vs Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Heteroneura)
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Midge | Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Heteroneura) |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chironomus plumosus | Drosophila heteroneura |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Chironomidae | Drosophilidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Forests |
| Diet | Detritivores | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North America | Oceania (Hawaii - Big Island) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
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.
Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Heteroneura)
A remarkable Hawaiian picture-wing fly famous for its hammer-shaped head, found only on Hawaii Island. Males use their broad, flattened heads in head-butting contests for mating rights. It breeds in decaying Clermontia bark.
Did You Know?
Males have uniquely hammer-shaped heads that they use as battering rams, headbutting rival males in combat over territory and mates.