Bat Fly vs Gold-tailed Ruby Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Bat Fly | Gold-tailed Ruby Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Penicillidia conspicua | Chrysis fulgida |
| Order | Diptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Nycteribiidae | Chrysididae |
| Size | 2-5 mm | 7-12 mm |
| Habitat | Caves | Underground |
| Diet | Parasites | Parasites |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, Africa | Central Europe, Southern Europe, Western Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Bat Fly
A bizarre wingless fly that lives exclusively as an ectoparasite on bats. It has lost its wings entirely and scurries through bat fur like a spider.
Did You Know?
These flies have evolved to look and move like spiders, having completely lost their wings and flattened their bodies for life in bat fur.
Gold-tailed Ruby Wasp
A dazzling metallic wasp with a bright green head and thorax and a golden-red abdomen. It is a brood parasite of potter wasps and mason wasps.
Did You Know?
Its armoured exoskeleton is so tough that host wasps cannot sting through it.