Arctic Flower Fly vs Bee Killer Robber Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Flower Fly | Bee Killer Robber Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Platycheirus melanopsis | Mallophora bomboides |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Asilidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 20-28 mm |
| Habitat | Meadows | Farmland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, northern Scandinavia, Siberia | Eastern United States from New England to Florida |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Arctic Flower Fly
A small hover fly with a dark body and distinctive pale facial markings. It is an important pollinator of Arctic wildflowers. Larvae are predatory on aphids in tundra vegetation.
Did You Know?
This hover fly is one of the most important pollinators in the High Arctic where bees are scarce or absent.
Bee Killer Robber Fly
A large fuzzy robber fly that closely resembles a bumble bee in both appearance and buzzing flight. It perches on vegetation and launches aerial attacks on passing insects.
Did You Know?
Its bumble bee mimicry is so convincing that it can sit among real bees at flowers without being recognized as a predator.