American Horse Fly vs Elephant Louse
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | American Horse Fly | Elephant Louse |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Tabanus americanus | Haematomyzus elephantis |
| Order | Diptera | Phthiraptera |
| Family | Tabanidae | Haematomyzidae |
| Size | 20-28 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Grasslands |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Eastern and central United States | Asia, Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
American Horse Fly
One of the largest horse flies in North America with a dark brown body and conspicuous green or purple iridescent eyes. Females deliver a painful slashing bite to obtain blood meals.
Did You Know?
Its knife-like mouthparts slice open skin rather than piercing it, which is why horse fly bites bleed so freely.
Elephant Louse
A highly specialized louse found only on elephants, with piercing mouthparts adapted to penetrate the thick pachyderm skin. It is the sole member of its family.
Did You Know?
The elephant louse is so specialized that it represents an entire family of its own, having co-evolved with elephants for millions of years.