Description

Orthoclad midge
Pliocene
Rita Blanca Formation
Oldham County, TX USA.
7mm orthoclad non-biting midge on 61mm slab.

Insect.

Orthoclad midges belong to the subfamily Orthocladinae within the family, Chironomidae which dates back to the Late Triassic.  Chironomid midges are non-biting but there are others that bite.  A midge is a kind of fly (Order Diptera) even smaller than houseflies.