Pied Hoverfly vs Tundra Mosquito
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pied Hoverfly | Tundra Mosquito |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Scaeva pyrastri | Aedes impiger |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Culicidae |
| Size | 12-16 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Predators | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North America | Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland, Svalbard, northern Alaska |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Pied Hoverfly
A large, elegant hoverfly with white crescent-shaped markings on a dark abdomen. It is a strong migrant and beneficial aphid predator.
Did You Know?
Its white crescent markings distinguish it from nearly all other European hoverflies at a glance.
Tundra Mosquito
A small but abundant Arctic mosquito with dark body and pale leg bands. It is one of the most northerly distributed mosquito species in the world. Larvae inhabit shallow tundra ponds warmed by continuous summer sunlight.
Did You Know?
This mosquito has been found breeding at latitudes above 80 degrees north, among the most northerly insects on Earth.