Arctic Flower Fly vs Merus Malaria Mosquito
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Flower Fly | Merus Malaria Mosquito |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Platycheirus melanopsis | Anopheles merus |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Culicidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Meadows | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Herbivores | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, northern Scandinavia, Siberia | East African coast, from Somalia to South Africa |
| 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.
Merus Malaria Mosquito
A saltwater-breeding member of the Anopheles gambiae complex found along the East African coast. It breeds in brackish pools along the coast and in inland salt pans. While less efficient than A. gambiae, it can be locally important for malaria transmission in coastal areas.
Did You Know?
Its tolerance for saltwater breeding sites sets it apart from its freshwater sibling species in the A. gambiae complex.