Banana Stalk Fly vs Dark-edged Bee-fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Banana Stalk Fly Dark-edged Bee-fly
Scientific Name Telostylinus angusticollis Bombylius major discolor
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Neriidae Bombyliidae
Size 8-15 mm 8-12mm
Habitat Forests Deserts & Drylands
Diet Wood Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Oceania Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Banana Stalk Fly

A slender long-legged fly from Australia whose body size depends on larval nutrition. Larger males pass on a size advantage to offspring even through a non-genetic pathway.

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Did You Know?

Research on this species demonstrated transgenerational effects where paternal diet quality affected offspring body size without changes to DNA.

Dark-edged Bee-fly

A subspecies of the bee-fly with slightly different wing patterning found in eastern populations.

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Did You Know?

Hovers at spring flowers with its long rigid proboscis extended, looking remarkably like a furry hummingbird.