Australian March Fly vs Banded General Soldier Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Australian March Fly | Banded General Soldier Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bibio imitator | Stratiomys potamida |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Bibionidae | Stratiomyidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm | 12-16 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Herbivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Australia | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Australian March Fly
A robust black bibionid fly that appears in large numbers during the Australian autumn. It has a hairy body and is a sluggish flyer, often seen resting on vegetation.
Did You Know?
Despite sharing the common name with horse flies in Australia, march flies in the family Bibionidae are completely harmless.
Banded General Soldier Fly
A large, boldly marked soldier fly with a broad flat abdomen bearing yellow lateral markings. Its aquatic larvae are elongate and can breathe through a posterior spiracle at the water surface.
Did You Know?
Larvae can survive in heavily polluted water where most other aquatic insects cannot live.