Water Veneer Moth vs Midge
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Water Veneer Moth | Midge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Acentria ephemerella | Chironomus plumosus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Crambidae | Chironomidae |
| Size | 10-14 mm wingspan (males) | 8-12 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Herbivores | Detritivores |
| Regions | Europe, North America | Europe, Asia, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Water Veneer Moth
A unique aquatic moth whose larvae live entirely underwater in freshwater lakes. Females are often wingless and spend their whole lives below the water surface.
Did You Know?
Wingless females mate underwater and never leave the lake where they were born.
Midge
A delicate, mosquito-like fly with feathery antennae that forms enormous mating swarms at dusk. Despite their appearance, non-biting midges are completely harmless.
Did You Know?
Midge swarms can be so dense near lakes that they appear on weather radar, and the biomass of emerging adults can exceed one ton per hectare of lake surface per year.