#midges

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Contrary to popular belief, there is nowhere on Earth that is entirely bug free; not even Antarctica! Although our southernmost continent lacks ants, scientists have discovered the world's southermost insect-- aptly named the Antarctic midge-- living on Antarctica's Refuge Islands, at a latitude of 68°21'S. Because these midges don't swim or fly, they are considered Antarctica's largest terrestrial animal, despite being only 6 mm (0.2 in) in length!

(Image: An Antarctic midge (Belgica antarctica) by Richard E. Lee Jr.

[donein30minutes]

Bugust 2025 Day 18: Side Quest 8.18.25

Done in 38 minutes

[walkingthewetlands]

8/11/2021, Great Dismal Swamp, Virginia

If you don't know about galls....now you will! The top and bottom image here are galls from gall midges. Galls are growths on plants, which can have many causes such as fungus or viruses. But in this case it's made by midges (a type of fly). Gall-inducing insects grow as larvae inside the plants, chemically inducing the plant to form these structures and feeding from them

Once I learned about galls, I never stopped finding them on plants...they are rather ubiquitous when you know what to look for

[8ghostscarabs]

referenced insect drawings :>

[scotianostra]

Now that the Midges have gone, Fort William has opened up it's open top bus service again.

[miyrumiyru]

⪩༏⪨ Flying Fairies ⁺₊⋆ ˚⋆...

[dabiconcordia]

AN ESSAY ON MIDGES as if all the letters had suddenly floated free of a paper and formed a swarm in the air;

they form a swarm in the air, of all that bad news telling us nothing, those skimpy muses, wispy

pegasuses, only abuzz with the hum of themselves, made from the last twist of smoke as the candle is snuffed,

so light you can hardly say: they are – looking more like shadows, umbrae jettisoned by another world. By Jan Wagner

[crudlynaturephotos]