Australian Sheep Blowfly vs Black Horse Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Australian Sheep Blowfly | Black Horse Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calliphora augur | Tabanus atratus |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Calliphoridae | Tabanidae |
| Size | 10-13 mm | 20-28 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Australia | Eastern United States from the Great Plains to the Atlantic coast |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Australian Sheep Blowfly
A large, dark blue blow fly endemic to Australia with a distinctive orange face and cheeks. It is one of the earliest colonizers of carrion in Australian conditions and is used in forensic entomology. Occasionally it contributes to secondary blowfly strike in sheep.
Did You Know?
Its bright orange face distinguishes it from other blue blow flies and makes it one of the most recognizable forensic indicator species in Australia.
Black Horse Fly
A very large entirely black horse fly and one of the biggest flies in North America. Females are persistent blood-feeders that can harass livestock and humans during summer months.
Did You Know?
Its larvae are aquatic predators that live in muddy pond bottoms and can take up to two years to complete development.