Window Gnat vs Southern House Mosquito

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Window Gnat Southern House Mosquito
Scientific Name Sylvicola fenestralis Culex quinquefasciatus
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Anisopodidae Culicidae
Size 5-7 mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Underground Woodlands
Diet Sap Feeders Blood Feeders
Regions Europe Tropics and subtropics worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Window Gnat

A small, delicate fly with dark-spotted wings often found resting on windows and walls. Larvae develop in fermenting organic matter and tree sap runs.

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Did You Know?

Despite being one of the most commonly encountered flies on windows throughout Europe, this species remains largely unstudied and overlooked by entomologists.

Southern House Mosquito

A tropical and subtropical mosquito that breeds in polluted water. It transmits lymphatic filariasis and is a major nuisance biter at night.

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Did You Know?

It thrives in organically polluted water that most other mosquito species cannot tolerate.