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This is a midge in the family Chironomidae. Midges are small, delicate flies that resemble mosquitoes but do not bite. Other family characters include 1) wings long and narrow, without scales (wings of mosquitoes have scales) 2) males like this spotting have long, feathery (plumose antennae) 3) front tarsi often very long 4) wing tip without a straight vein reaching margin between two branched veins. They are small insects, mostly 1-10 mm in length.
Usually damp areas, or near bodies of water. Larvae mostly aquatic; a few occur in decaying matter, under bark or in moist ground. Larvae of some species tolerate seasonal dessication. This one was photographed at night at a porch light near a southern deciduous forest in Edgefield County, SC.
It's the only photo that I have of the spotting, but I'm hoping someone can help ID it further.
Spotted on Apr 12, 2013
Submitted on Apr 14, 2013
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