Northern House Mosquito vs Long-legged Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Northern House Mosquito Long-legged Fly
Scientific Name Aedes hexodontus Dolichopus ungulatus
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Culicidae Dolichopodidae
Size 5-7 mm 5-7 mm
Habitat Tundra & Arctic Rivers & Streams
Diet Blood Feeders Herbivores
Regions Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, northern Siberia Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Northern House Mosquito

A dark-colored Arctic mosquito with distinctive banding on the abdomen. It breeds in tundra pools and is a major pest species in northern regions. Females are aggressive biters, active even in cool temperatures.

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Did You Know?

This species can complete its entire larval development in as little as two weeks in the continuous daylight of Arctic summer.

Long-legged Fly

A small, slender fly with a brilliant metallic green body and long, thin legs. Males have modified leg structures used in elaborate courtship displays performed on leaves.

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Did You Know?

Male long-legged flies perform an elaborate wing-waving courtship dance on sunlit leaves, displaying silvery wing patches to watching females like tiny semaphore signals.