Midge vs Hop-Garden Earwig
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Midge | Hop-Garden Earwig |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chironomus plumosus | Forficula lesnei |
| Order | Diptera | Dermaptera |
| Family | Chironomidae | Forficulidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 9-13 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Gardens |
| Diet | Detritivores | Detritivores |
| 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.
Hop-Garden Earwig
A small earwig closely related to the European earwig but distinguished by its shorter wing cases. It is found in southern European gardens and orchards.
Did You Know?
This species was long confused with the European earwig and was only recognized as distinct in the early twentieth century.