Bee Killer Robber Fly vs Bot Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Bee Killer Robber Fly | Bot Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Mallophora bomboides | Dermatobia hominis |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Asilidae | Oestridae |
| Size | 20-28 mm | 12-18 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Forests |
| Diet | Herbivores | Parasites |
| Regions | Eastern United States from New England to Florida | Central America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Bee Killer Robber Fly
A large fuzzy robber fly that closely resembles a bumble bee in both appearance and buzzing flight. It perches on vegetation and launches aerial attacks on passing insects.
Did You Know?
Its bumble bee mimicry is so convincing that it can sit among real bees at flowers without being recognized as a predator.
Bot Fly
Parasitic fly whose larvae develop under the skin of mammals including humans. Female captures a mosquito and glues eggs to it — when the mosquito bites, body heat triggers egg hatching.
Did You Know?
The human bot fly is so devious it hijacks mosquitoes — it catches them, glues eggs to their bodies, then the eggs hatch when the mosquito lands on warm skin.