Australian Malaria Mosquito vs Wohlfahrt's Wound Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Australian Malaria Mosquito | Wohlfahrt's Wound Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anopheles farauti | Wohlfahrtia magnifica |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Culicidae | Sarcophagidae |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 9-15 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, northern Australia | Southern Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Australian Malaria Mosquito
A pale-winged Anopheles mosquito that is the dominant malaria vector in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. It breeds in brackish water as well as fresh water, giving it access to coastal habitats. It bites both indoors and outdoors, making vector control challenging.
Did You Know?
Its ability to breed in both salt and fresh water gives it access to coastal habitats where most Anopheles cannot survive.
Wohlfahrt's Wound Fly
A large, gray flesh fly with dark spots on the abdomen that is an obligate parasite of warm-blooded animals in the Old World. Females larviposit directly into body openings (ears, nose, eyes) or wounds of sleeping humans and animals. It is a significant cause of human myiasis in Central Asia and the Middle East.
Did You Know?
It preferentially targets sleeping people, depositing larvae into the ears, nose, or eyes, causing severe tissue destruction.