Apple leaf midge vs Colombian Small-eared Shrew

Dasineura mali compared with Cryptotis colombiana

Key Differences

• Apple leaf midge is Not Evaluated while Colombian Small-eared Shrew is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Apple leaf midge	Colombian Small-eared Shrew
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Diptera (Diptera)	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)
Family	Cecidomyiidae	Soricidae
Genus	Dasineura	Cryptotis
Species	Dasineura mali	Cryptotis colombiana

Evolutionary Relationship

Apple leaf midge and Colombian Small-eared Shrew share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Apple leaf midge

NE — Not Evaluated

Colombian Small-eared Shrew

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Apple leaf midge	Colombian Small-eared Shrew
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Apple leaf midge

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and United States.

Colombian Small-eared Shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Colombia.

Apple leaf midge

The Apple leaf midge (Dasineura mali) is a species in the genus Dasineura. Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Colombian Small-eared Shrew

<em>Cryptotis colombiana</em>, the Colombian small-eared shrew, is a diminutive insectivorous mammal belonging to the family Soricidae, endemic to Colombia. This species typically inhabits montane environments, including humid cloud forests and high-altitude grasslands known locally as páramo, where it forages actively through leaf litter and soil for invertebrate prey. Small-eared shrews of the genus <em>Cryptotis</em> are characterised by their notably reduced external ears, high metabolic rates, and nearly constant activity cycles driven by the energetic demands of maintaining body temperature. <em>Cryptotis colombiana</em> is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, suggesting that its population is relatively stable within its Colombian range. Despite this status, Andean shrews face ongoing pressures from land conversion, cattle grazing in páramo ecosystems, and climate-driven shifts in vegetation zones. The species contributes to soil aeration and invertebrate population regulation within its montane habitat. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.