Rose Midge vs Alpine Hover Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Rose Midge | Alpine Hover Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dasineura rhodophaga | Sericomyia silentis |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Cecidomyiidae | Syrphidae |
| Size | 1-2 mm | 14-18 mm body length |
| Habitat | Underground | Meadows |
| Diet | Gall Makers | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | North America, Europe | Europe, Northern Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Rose Midge
A tiny gall midge whose larvae develop inside rose buds, causing them to blacken and fail to open. Adults are delicate yellowish flies barely visible to the naked eye.
Did You Know?
A single rose bud can contain dozens of tiny orange larvae that destroy the flower before it ever opens.
Alpine Hover Fly
A large hover fly with bold yellow-and-black banding mimicking a wasp. It visits alpine flowers for nectar in mountain meadows.
Did You Know?
Its larvae are rat-tailed maggots that breathe through a snorkel-like siphon in waterlogged soil.