American Horse Fly vs Lesser Water Boatman
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | American Horse Fly | Lesser Water Boatman |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Tabanus americanus | Sigara striata |
| Order | Diptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Tabanidae | Corixidae |
| Size | 20-28 mm | 6-8 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Detritivores |
| Regions | Eastern and central United States | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Lesser Water Boatman
A small water boatman with fine dark striations across its forewings. It is among the most abundant aquatic insects in European standing waters. It feeds by scraping algae and organic material from submerged surfaces.
Did You Know?
In Mexico, a related species' eggs are harvested in such quantities from lake surfaces that they are dried and sold as a traditional food called 'ahuautle,' once known as Mexican caviar.