On a broad, fresh green leaf, I found a tiny, beautiful insect perched on the leaf. This was the first time I'd encountered this insect. At first glance, I thought it was a mosquito, at first glance, it looked very similar.
While observing it, I racked my brain, wondering if it was a mosquito or not. My logic told me it couldn't be a mosquito, as I'd never encountered a mosquito with this color before.
When I posted this observation on inaturalist, it turned out my logic was correct, it wasn't a mosquito. Rather, it was a species of fly that lives in freshwater. In Latin, this fly is known as Chironomus javanus, and it belongs to the Chironomidae family.
It remained motionless on the leaf, as if enjoying the tranquility of nature on a cool morning. Its body was beautiful, long and slender, green and white, blending beautifully with the orange on its back. A pair of transparent wings reflected the soft light, looking like clear glass polished by morning dew.
There's another fascinating aspect about this fly, its unique antennae. Long, flexible, covered in fine hairs, it resembles a circular fan, exuding a mysterious charm. I've never encountered such unique insect antennae before. This is truly an extraordinary discovery.
| Latin name | Chironomus javanus |
|---|---|
| Observation date | 9 Agt, 2025 |
| Camera used | realme 7 Pro |
| Photographers | @reachdreams |
| Location | Aceh, Indonesia |
| Link to original community |
|---|
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/304855109
| Latitude | Longitude | Map |
|---|---|---|
| 4.695135 | 96.7493993 | https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=4.695135&mlon=96.7493993 |
Hah I love the antenna on that one. so furry...
The hairs on its antennae are unique, resembling a round fan. That's the first time I've encountered an insect with antennae like that. Glad to hear you like it, thank you very much, my friend.