African Soldier Beetle vs American Hoverfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | African Soldier Beetle | American Hoverfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cantharis africana | Eupeodes americanus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Cantharidae | Syrphidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 8-11 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Farmland |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Africa, Eastern Africa, Southern Africa | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
African Soldier Beetle
A soft-bodied soldier beetle from Sub-Saharan Africa with orange-brown elytra and a darker head region. Like other cantharids, it has flexible elytra and is an active predator of small insects on flowers.
Did You Know?
Soldier beetles are important pollinators in their own right, transferring pollen between flowers as they hunt for prey.
American Hoverfly
A widespread North American hoverfly with yellow and black markings. Larvae are voracious aphid predators in crop fields.
Did You Know?
A single larva can consume several hundred aphids before pupating.