Asian Mud Dauber vs Verrucarum Sandfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Asian Mud Dauber | Verrucarum Sandfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sceliphron curvatum | Lutzomyia verrucarum |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Sphecidae | Psychodidae |
| Size | 15-25 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Carrion Feeders |
| Regions | Central Asia, Europe | Peru, Andean valleys of South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Asian Mud Dauber
A dark-bodied mud dauber originally from Central Asia now invasive across Europe. It builds mud nests inside buildings and provisions them with spiders.
Did You Know?
It spread from its native range in India and Central Asia to colonize most of southern and central Europe within just 30 years.
Verrucarum Sandfly
A small sandfly found in the inter-Andean valleys of Peru, serving as the vector of Bartonella bacilliformis, which causes Carrion's disease (Oroya fever and verruga peruana). It is active at dusk and night at altitudes between 800 and 3,000 meters.
Did You Know?
Carrion's disease killed thousands of workers during construction of the Lima-La Oroya railway in the 1870s.