Australian Hoverfly vs Polynesian Tiger Mosquito

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Australian Hoverfly Polynesian Tiger Mosquito
Scientific Name Simosyrphus grandicornis Aedes polynesiensis
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Syrphidae Culicidae
Size 8-11 mm 3-5 mm
Habitat Farmland Woodlands
Diet Predators Blood Feeders
Regions Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia South Pacific islands, Polynesia, Melanesia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Australian Hoverfly

A common Australian hoverfly with orange-yellow markings on a dark abdomen. It is an important pollinator and aphid predator in Australian agriculture.

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Did You Know?

It is the most commonly encountered hoverfly species across mainland Australia.

Polynesian Tiger Mosquito

A dark mosquito with white markings found across the South Pacific islands. It is an important vector of lymphatic filariasis (Wuchereria bancrofti) and dengue in the Pacific. It breeds in natural containers like coconut shells, crab holes, and tree holes.

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Did You Know?

Biological control using the mosquito Toxorhynchites amboinensis was attempted in the Pacific, as it preys on Aedes larvae.