Arctic Flower Fly vs Sheep Ked
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Flower Fly | Sheep Ked |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Platycheirus melanopsis | Melophagus ovinus |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Hippoboscidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 4-7 mm |
| Habitat | Meadows | Farmland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, northern Scandinavia, Siberia | Cosmopolitan - worldwide where sheep are raised |
| 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.
Sheep Ked
A completely wingless, tick-like blood-sucking fly that lives permanently in sheep wool. Its flattened body and strong claws allow it to cling firmly to wool fibers.
Did You Know?
Despite being called a ked or tick, it is actually a true fly that has completely lost its wings through evolution.