Phantom Midge vs Xanthostigma Snakefly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Phantom Midge | Xanthostigma Snakefly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chaoborus crystallinus | Xanthostigma xanthostigma |
| Order | Diptera | Raphidioptera |
| Family | Chaoboridae | Raphidiidae |
| Size | 8-10 mm | 12-18 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Woodlands |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, North America | Europe, Western Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Phantom Midge
A nearly transparent midge whose larvae are planktonic predators in lakes. Larvae migrate vertically in the water column daily to avoid fish predation.
Did You Know?
Its glass-clear larvae are almost invisible in water, earning the common name glassworm.
Xanthostigma Snakefly
A snakefly with a distinctive yellow wing stigma from which it derives its name. It is found in European woodlands where it hunts small insects on tree trunks.
Did You Know?
Snakefly larvae develop under bark where they are voracious predators of bark beetle larvae and other wood-boring insects.