Batman Hoverfly vs Southern Rock Bristletail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Batman Hoverfly Southern Rock Bristletail
Scientific Name Myathropa florea Lepismachilis y-signata
Order Diptera Archaeognatha
Family Syrphidae Machilidae
Size 12-15 mm 8-11 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Sap Feeders Detritivores
Regions Europe, Western Asia Mediterranean Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Batman Hoverfly

A wasp-mimicking hoverfly with a distinctive bat-shaped marking on its thorax, earning it the nickname 'batman hoverfly.' Larvae develop in water-filled tree holes as aquatic filter feeders.

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Did You Know?

The dark bat-shaped mark on its thorax is so distinctive that it can be identified at a glance from above.

Southern Rock Bristletail

A Mediterranean bristletail identified by a Y-shaped marking on its thorax. It lives under stones and in rock crevices.

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Did You Know?

The Y-shaped thoracic marking gives this species its distinctive name.