African Horse Fly vs Heath Bee Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Horse Fly Heath Bee Fly
Scientific Name Tabanus biguttatus Bombylius minor
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Tabanidae Bombyliidae
Size 16-22 mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Beaches & Coastal
Diet Blood Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Sub-Saharan Africa Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

African Horse Fly

A large tropical horse fly that transmits animal trypanosomiasis in Africa. It is an important veterinary pest across sub-Saharan Africa.

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Did You Know?

It is a mechanical vector of surra and other trypanosome diseases in African livestock.

Heath Bee Fly

A small, late-summer bee fly with greyish fur and clear wings. Its larvae parasitize solitary wasps in sandy habitats.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most bee flies that appear in spring, this species flies mainly in July and August.