Northern House Mosquito vs Painted Soldier Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Northern House Mosquito | Painted Soldier Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aedes hexodontus | Sargus cuprarius |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Culicidae | Stratiomyidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 10-14 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Underground |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, northern Siberia | Europe |
| 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.
Did You Know?
This species can complete its entire larval development in as little as two weeks in the continuous daylight of Arctic summer.
Painted Soldier Fly
A brilliantly metallic coppery-green soldier fly with a slender body and clear wings. It basks on sunlit vegetation and is often seen on hogweed and other umbellifers.
Did You Know?
Its metallic sheen changes color depending on the viewing angle, a phenomenon called structural coloration.