[1] As cecidomyiids, adult Contarinia are flies with hairy wings and long antennae.

[2] The genus was erected by Rondani and commemorate the naturalist Nicolò Bertucci Contarini.

[3] Many species of Contarinia have herbivorous larvae that attack inflorescences, fruits, or buds of plants.

[8] Two species of Contarinia are the main insects to visit inflorescences of Artocarpus integer (and possibly other plants).

Midge larvae hatch from the eggs, develop while also feeding on the fungus, pupate and then emerge from male inflorescences.