Arctic Flower Fly vs Sand Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Flower Fly | Sand Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Platycheirus melanopsis | Phlebotomus papatasi |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Psychodidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Meadows | Caves |
| Diet | Herbivores | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, northern Scandinavia, Siberia | Africa, Asia, Europe |
| 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.
Sand Fly
A tiny, hairy, yellowish fly with large dark eyes and wings held in a V-shape above the body. Females feed on blood and are the primary vectors of leishmaniasis in the Old World.
Did You Know?
Sand flies are so small they can pass through standard mosquito netting, and they fly in short silent hops rather than sustained buzzing flight.