About Clogmia albipunctatus (Williston, 1893)
Clogmia albipunctata adults have broad wings covered in brownish and blackish hairs. A tuft of blackish hair grows near each wing vein fork, and a tuft of white hair sits at the ends of most veins. This means each wing has a pair of black spots near its middle and several white spots along its edge. The thorax and abdomen are covered in gray to brownish-gray hairs. This species has a pair of antennae that are longer than the abdomen and covered in white hairs. Its legs are brown, with white ring-shaped markings called annuli at the tips of the tibiae and metatarsi. The original species description recorded an adult body length of 2.2 mm and a wing length of 2.2 mm. Later observations confirm that this species can reach slightly larger sizes, with body lengths up to 2.5 mm. The specific epithet albipunctata translates to "white-dotted", which refers to the white spots visible on the species' wings and appendages. This is a very common species with a worldwide distribution across tropical and temperate regions, and it is often closely associated with humans. It can be found near sewer drains, sewage treatment plants, plant pots, swamps, and any other shaded location that holds moist, decaying organic matter. It is a common pest around household drains, but its larvae play an important role in the sewage treatment process.
