mosquito with unusual abdomen.

[Bruce Williams]

Northants garden - geraniums. Photo from rim of bowl.

I often see these in the garden, however in the past they have flown off as soon as I'd got close enough to take a shot. Fortunately this one hung around just long enough for me to fire of a few shots from the same spot.....and luckily one of them was in focus .

Actually I was really pleased to get these shots as I'd been keen to see what that odd, almost transparent looking abdomen actually looked like magnified on screen. The lovely, plumose antennae were a bonus.

Help with identification appreciated.





Bruce

[pressld2]

Great shots Bruce. I'd say one of the Chironomidae, possibly Chironomus luridus.

Dave P.

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks for help with identification Dave. So it's an idge not an osquito then .

I've seen lots of these in my garden and they all have the same very light blue abdomen with a dark tip. The light part of the abdomen looks almost like clear glass when seen at "real life" size. Non of them have a banded abdomen. I've not been able to find an image where the abdomen looks exactly like my midge although all of the Chironomidae look generally very similar.

Bruce

[Bruce Williams]

Thank you to whoever added the missing 'm' to osquito in my thread title. This of course makes my little joke (in my reply to pressld2, see below) seem quite puzzling to someone reading the thread for the first time .

Thanks for help with identification Dave. So it's an idge not an osquito then .

Bruce